Customs and Excise Act

Chapter 23:02

This is the version of this Act as it was from 20 July 2018 to 19 February 2019. Read the latest available version.
Citation
Chapter 23:02
Date
Language
English
Type
Act
Related documents
Zimbabwe

Customs and Excise Act

Chapter 23:02

  • Published in Government Gazette
  • Commenced on 1 July 1955
  • [This is the version of this document as it was from 20 July 2018 to 19 February 2019.]
  • [Note: This version of the Act was revised and consolidated by the Law Development Commission of Zimbabwe. This version is up-to-date as at 31st December 2016.]
  1. [Amended by Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act, 2018 (Act 12 of 2018) on 20 July 2018]
[Acts 16/1955 (Federal), 24/1955 (Federal), 10/1956 (Federal), 16/1956 (Federal), 20/1956 (Federal), 29/1956 (Federal), 1/1957 (Federal), 10/1957 (Federal), 20/1957 (Federal), 24/1957 (Federal), 15/1958 (Federal), 25/1958 (Federal), 7/1959 (Federal), 15/1959 (Federal), 21/1959 (Federal), 22/1959 (Federal), 44/1959 (Federal), 3/1960 (Federal), 4/1960 (Federal), 17/1960 (Federal), 18/1960 (Federal), 39/1960 (Federal), 5/1961 (Federal), 22/1961 (Federal), 4/1962 (Federal), 6/1962 (Federal), 25/1962 (Federal), 36/1962 (Federal), 49/1962 (Federal), 3/1963 (Federal), 9/1963 (Federal), 25/1963 (Federal), 5/1964, 11/1964, 36/1964, 51/1964, 90/1964, 4/1965, 6/1965 (s. 19), 9/1965 (s. 8), 14/1965, 26/1965, 3/1966,7/1966, 40/1966, 1/1967, 3/1967, 12/1967, 32/1967,. 48/1967, 3/1968, 17/1968, 28/1968, 3/1969, 26/1969, 38/1969, 1/1970, 17/1970, 36/1970, 19/1971, 49/1971, 19/1972, 43/1972, 7/1973, 19/1973, 6/1974, 22/1974, 41/1974, 30/1975, 17/1976, 30/1976, 26/1977, 22/1978, 24/1978, 36/1978, 41/1978 (s. 15), 23/1979, 24/1979, 2/1980, 15/1980, 1/1981, 15/1981, 22/1981, 51/1981, 53/1981, 8/1982, 33/1982, 34/1982, 9/1983, 20/1983, 29/1983, 17/1984, 25/1984, 29/1984, 19/15, 26/1985, 18/1986, 20/1986, 24/1986, 28/1987, 29/1987, 30/1987, 16/1988, 11/1989, 3/1990, 5/1990, 19/1990, 25/1990, 1/1991, 11/1991 (s. 14), 27/1991, 8/1992, 17/1992, 21/1992, 12/1993, 15/1994, 19/1994, 17/1995, 4/1996 (as modified by S.I. 94/1996), 13/1996, 3/1998 (s. 31), 29/1998, 17/1999, 21/1999, 22/1999, 18/2000, 22/2001, 27/2001, 29/2001, 15/2002, 12/2002, 15/2002, 10/2003, 18/2004, 29/2004, 2/2005, 8/2005, 12/2006, 8/2007, 3/2009;5/2009, 10/2009, 3/2010, 5/2010, 8/2011, 9/2011, 4/2012, 6/2012, 1/2014, 5/2014, 8/2014, 11/2014, 9/2015, 2/2017, 1/2018. R.G.N.s 803/1963, 25/1970, 217/1970, 313/1970, 452/1970, 529/1970, 1135/1971, 413/1974, 790/1974, 822/1974]AN ACT to provide for the imposition, collection and management of customs, excise and other duties, the licensing and control of warehouses and of premises for the manufacture of certain goods, the regulating, controlling and prohibiting of imports and exports, the conclusion of customs and trade agreements with other countries, and forfeitures, and for other matters connected therewith.

Part I – Preliminary

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23:02].

2. Interpretation

In this Act—“absolute alcohol” means absolute alcohol by volume at a temperature of fifteen degrees Celsius;“agreement” means—(a)a convention, treaty, agreement or other arrangement concluded by the President in terms of section ninety-nine; or(b)those provisions of a convention, treaty, agreement or other arrangement referred to in subsection (2) of section one hundred that are identified by the President in terms of paragraph (b) of that subsection;“aircraft” includes balloons, kites, gliders, airships and flying machines;“anti-dumping duty” means an anti-dumping duty imposed in terms of section ninety;“beer” includes ale, black beer, lager beer, porter, spruce beer and stout;“bill of entry” means a prescribed form on which an entry is made;[definition inserted by Act 18 of 2000](a)a distillate produced solely by the distillation of wine derived from the fermented juice of grapes, by a pot still or similar process, at a strength not exceeding eighty per centum of absolute alcohol; or(b)a mixture of two or more distillates as defined in paragraph (a); or(c)a distillate or mixture of distillates as defined in paragraph (a) or (b) to which has been added wine spirit or rectified spirit and flavouring matter so, however, than the finished product contains not less than twenty per centum of distillate referred to in paragraph (a) calculated as absolute alcohol; or(d)marc brandy;and includes synthetic or imitation brandy which means a potable liquor containing more than one comma seven per centum of absolute alcohol and which purports to have or has the appearance and flavour of brandy but was produced by methods other than those specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), and is not marc brandy;“brewer” means a brewer of beer, and includes the proprietor, lessee or possessor of a brewery;“cigar” includes cheroot and cigarillo;“cigarette” means any article made from cigarette tobacco rolled or enveloped in paper or other covering;“cigarette tobacco” means—(a)any tobacco cut into strips less than one millimetre in width and includes any cut tobacco described or offered for sale as tobacco for making into cigarettes;(b)a mixture of any cut tobacco with tobacco as defined in paragraph (a);“commercial goods” means goods which are used mainly for the generation of income or the making of profits;“Commissioner” means—(a)the Commissioner in charge of the department of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority which is declared in terms of the Revenue Authority Act [Chapter 23:11] to be responsible for assessing, collecting and enforcing the payment of duties in terms of this Act; or(b)the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, in relation to any function which he has been authorised under the Revenue Authority Act [Chapter 23:11] to exercise;[definition inserted by Act 17 of 1999]“container” means a receptacle which—(a)is fully or partially enclosed so as to constitute a compartment intended for containing goods; and(b)is of a permanent character and strong enough to be suitable for repeated use; and(c)is specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport; and(d)is designed for ready handling, particularly when being transported from one mode of transport to another mode of transport; and(e)has an internal volume of one cubic metre or more;“container depot” means any premises appointed by the Commissioner in terms of subsection (1) of section nineteen to which containers which contain or may contain uncustomed goods may be removed for entry, storage, detention, unpacking and examination;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“cost”, in relation to the cost, insurance, freight value of any goods, means the ex-factory price of the goods, together with the cost of transport from the place of manufacture to the place of export and all other charges and expenses incidental to placing the goods on board the means of transport by which the goods are removed from the country of exportation;“cost, insurance, freight value”, in relation to any goods, means the total amount of the cost, insurance and freight paid or payable for those goods;“countervailing duty” means a countervailing duty imposed in terms of section ninety-two;“country of exportation”, in relation to imported goods, means the country from which such goods are exported to Zimbabwe, excluding any country through which such goods travel in transit;“crew” includes every person, except the master or pilot, employed in any capacity on any ship, aircraft or vehicle;“currency” includes any bill of exchange, promissory note, traveller’s cheque or letter of credit or any draft or other document issued to obtain currency or credit for an amount of money;“custom house” means a custom house appointed in terms of paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section fourteen;“customs area” means any place appointed by the Commissioner in terms of subsection (1) of section eighteen for the deposit of uncustomed goods;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“customs aerodrome” means any aerodrome appointed by the Minister in terms of paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section fourteen;“customs tariff” means the tariff of customs duties imposed in terms of section two hundred and twenty-five, as amended or replaced from time to time in terms of that section;“dealer”, in relation to cigarettes, means any person, including a club, who deals in cigarettes;“Department” means the department of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority which is declared in terms of the Revenue Authority Act [Chapter 23:11] to be responsible for assessing, collecting and enforcing the payment of duties in terms of this Act;[definition substituted by Act 17 of 1999]“designated opaque beer” means opaque beer which is manufactured by the holder of a commercial brewers permit issued in terms of the Traditional Beer Act [Chapter 14:25];“direct trader input facilities” means computerised facilities enabling an importer, exporter, manufacturer, holder of a licence or clearing agent to record information on the Customs computer system;[definition inserted by Act 18 of 2000]“Director” [definition repealed by Act 17 of 1999]“distiller” means any person who conducts, works or carries on any distillery either by himself or through his agent or servant;“distillery” means any place or premises where any process of distillation whatever of spirits is carried on, or where any process of rectification of spirits is carried on, or where any spirits are manufactured or produced from any substance whatever by any process other than fermentation;“duty”, subject to subsection (4) of section thirty-four, subsection (4) of section thirty-eight, subsection (6) of section thirty-nine, subsection (5) of section forty, subsection (6) of section forty-five, subsection (3) of section forty-six, subsection (1) of section one hundred and eighteen, subsection (2) of section one hundred and ninety-two, subsection (2) of section one hundred and ninety-three, subsection (3) of section two hundred and four and subsection (10) of section two hundred and nine, means any duty leviable under this Act or any other law relating to customs and excise and includes surtax;“duty-paid value”, in relation to any goods or articles, means, subject to section two hundred and six, the value of such goods or articles as determined in terms of section one hundred and eighteen;[definition amended by Act 22 of 2001]“entry” in relation to clearance of goods for importation, warehousing, removal from a warehouse or exportation, means the presentation in accordance with this Act of a correctly completed and signed declaration on a bill of entry in writing and, where direct trader input facilities exist, includes the recording of the required information on the Customs computer system, using procedures approved by the Commissioner, or using a computerised procedure approved by the Commissioner, together with such bills of lading, invoices, price lists and other documents showing the purchase value of the goods together with the freight, insurance and other charges on the goods required to be declared by any provision of this Act;[definition substituted by Act 18 of 2000]“excise tariff” means the tariff of excise duties imposed in terms of section two hundred and twenty-five, as amended or replaced from time to time in terms of that section;“export” means to take goods or cause goods to be taken out of Zimbabwe;“exporter” means any person in Zimbabwe who takes goods or causes goods to be taken out of Zimbabwe, and includes any employee or agent of such person and the owner of such goods as are exported;“feints” means any liquid which, in the course of distillation, redistillation or rectification, is conveyed to—(a)a feints receiver; or(b)a vessel, the use of which as a feints receiver is authorized by or under this Act;“fortified wine” means wine, grape must or concentrated grape must to which spirits other than feints have been added and includes wine to which fortified wine has been added;“free on board” means free on board any ship, aircraft or vehicle;“free on board value”, in relation to—(a)exported goods, means the price of such goods to the purchaser, including all costs, charges and expenses incidental to the sale thereof or to the placing thereof on board the means of transport by which they will be removed from Zimbabwe but excluding any subsequent costs, charges or expenses incurred in connection with the delivery of such goods to their destination;(b)imported goods, means the price of such goods to the importer, including all costs, charges and expenses incidental to the purchase thereof or to the placing thereof on board the means of transport by which they will be removed from the country of exportation but excluding any subsequent costs, charges or expenses incurred in connection with the delivery of such goods to Zimbabwe;“freight”, in relation to the cost, insurance, freight value of any goods, means the cost of transporting the goods from the place of export in the country of exportation to the place of importation in Zimbabwe, and includes all loading, unloading handling and storage charges incurred prior to their arrival in Zimbabwe;“gin” means—(a)a distillate resulting from the redistillation of rectified spirit in the presence of juniper berries with or without the addition of common salt and harmless aromatic or other flavouring matter in a pot or gin still; or(b)a distillate as defined in paragraph (a) compounded with rectified spirit;and includes synthetic or imitation gin which means a potable liquor containing more than one comma seven per centum of absolute alcohol and which purports to have or has the appearance and flavour of gin but was produced by methods other than those specified in paragraph (a) or (b);“goods”, subject to subsection (3) of section twenty-seven, subsection (3) of section forty-eight, subsection (2) of section fifty-five, subsection (4) of section sixty-one, subsection (2) of section one hundred and seventy-three, subsection (2) of section one hundred and eighty-seven, subsection (2) of section one hundred and ninety-three and subsection (10) of section two hundred and nine, including all wares, articles, merchandise, animals, matter, baggage, stores or things;“honey beer” means any potable liquid containing more than one comma seven per centum but not more than seven comma four per centum of absolute alcohol which is derived by the fermentation of a mixture of honey and water;“import” means to bring goods or cause goods to be brought into Zimbabwe;“importer”, in relation to goods, includes any owner of or other person possessed of or beneficially interested in any goods at any time before entry of the same has been made and the requirements of this Act fulfilled;[definition amended by Act 18 of 2000]“insurance”, in relation to the cost, insurance, freight value of any goods, means any costs, charges and expenses of or associated with the insurance of the goods from the place of export in the country of exportation to the place of importation in Zimbabwe;“Lake Kariba” means the body of water formed by the construction of the Kariba Dam; “landing”, in relation to goods, includes the discharging of goods from a pipeline;“leaf tobacco” means the cured leaves of the tobacco plant;“licence”, in relation to the manufacture of goods liable to excise duty or surtax, means a licence issued in terms of section one hundred and twenty-eight;“licensed premises” means any premises in respect of which a licence is issued in terms of section one hundred and twenty-eight and includes any building situate outside the immediate precincts of any such premises which is used, with the approval of the Commissioner, in conjunction with those premises for reducing, bottling or the disposal of spirits distilled within Zimbabwe;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“loading”, in relation to goods, includes the pumping or insertion of goods into a pipeline;“low-wines” means spirits of first extraction by a single still and conveyed into a low-wines receiver;“manufacture”, in relation to—(a)goods liable to excise duty or surtax other than—(i)motor spirit; and(ii)imported goods;includes the mixing, brewing, distilling or production of goods liable to excise duty or surtax; or(b)motor spirit liable to excise duty or surtax, other than imported motor spirit, includes the production of motor spirit by the mixing, blending, distilling or refining of any materials (excluding a motor spirit or such materials as may be prescribed);“manufactured tobacco”, in relation to tobacco liable to excise duty or surtax, other than surtax on imported goods, means—(a)leaf tobacco which has been subjected to any process of manufacture including cutting, grinding, crushing, rolling, breaking, tearing or rubbing; and(b)manufactured or partially manufactured tobacco which is subjected to any further process of manufacture including cutting, grinding, crushing, rolling, breaking, tearing or rubbing;but does not include leaf tobacco which has been subjected only to any process or treatment known in the usage of the trade as butting, thrashing or stripping;“manufacturer”, in relation to—(a)goods liable to excise duty or surtax other than—(i)motor spirit; and(ii)imported goods;includes any person who is required to be licensed in terms of section one hundred and twenty-eight and any person who mixes, brews, distils or produces goods liable to excise duty or surtax or who employs others to do so on his account; or(b)motor spirit liable to excise duty or surtax, other than imported motor spirit, includes any person who is required to be licensed in terms of section one hundred and twenty-eight and any person who produces motor spirit, liable to excise duty or surtax, by the mixing, blending, distilling or refining of any materials (excluding a motor spirit or such materials as may be prescribed) or who employs others to do so on his account;“mass” means—(a)in relation to tobacco, the net mass of such tobacco plus the mass of the moisture and other substances contained therein at the time of manufacture; and(b)in relation to cigarettes, the mass of the cigarettes as a whole including the mass of the tobacco, the paper or other wrapping material and the tipping material, if any;“master”, in relation to any ship or vehicle, means any person, other than the pilot of a ship, having charge of such ship or vehicle;“methylate” includes any prescribed method of denaturation;“Minister” means the Minister of Finance or any other Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign the administration of this Act;“neutral spirit” means a spirit derived from the fermentation of carbohydrate materials and rectified at a strength of not less than ninety-four comma eight per centum of absolute alcohol,“officer”—(a)means an officer of the department of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority which is declared in terms of the Revenue Authority Act [Chapter 23:11] to be responsible for assessing, collecting and enforcing the payment of duties in terms of this Act;[definition substituted by Act 17 of 1999](b)includes a person exercising the powers or performing the duties of an officer conferred or imposed upon him in terms of subsection (4) of section three;“opaque beer”, means any potable opaque liquid containing more than one comma seven per centum of absolute alcohol which—(a)is derived by the fermentation of a mash of cereal grain or vegetables or of grain or vegetable products, with or without the addition of sucrose; and(b)contains the mash or a residue of the mash from which it is derived;“open stock” means any goods which have been released within Zimbabwe after the requirements of this Act have been satisfied;“operator”, in relation to a pipeline, includes any person responsible for the management thereof or for the pumping or insertion of goods into or the discharge of goods from the pipeline;“package” means any container, wrapping or outer-cover and its contents, or any bundle or single piece where the goods are not packed;“pilot”, in relation to any aircraft, means any person having charge of such aircraft;“pipe tobacco” means any manufactured tobacco including tobacco in the form of cake, plug or stick but not including cigars, cigarette tobacco, roll tobacco, snuff or tobacco processed for any purpose other than chewing or smoking;“place of importation”, in relation to—(a)goods other than goods imported by post, means—(i)where the goods are imported by ship, the ship’s first port of call in Zimbabwe;(ii)where the goods are imported by aircraft, the place where the aircraft makes its first landing in Zimbabwe;(iii)where goods are imported by road or rail transport, the place where the goods cross the borders of Zimbabwe;(iv)where the goods are imported by pipeline, the place where the goods pass through the first metered point on the pipeline within Zimbabwe;(b)goods imported by post, means the post office in Zimbabwe where duty payable on the goods is assessed;“port” means any place appointed by the Minister in terms of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) or paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section fourteen and any customs aerodrome, whether within a port or not, shall be deemed to be a port for aircraft;“potable” means suitable for consumption as an alcoholic beverage;“premises” means any building or place whatsoever;“proper officer” means, in respect of any port or matter the officer designated by rule or regulation or by the Commissioner to be the proper officer at that port or in that matter;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“provisional anti-dumping charge” means a provisional anti-dumping charge imposed in terms of section ninety-one;“record” includes any device or medium whereon or wherein information is recorded;“rectified spirit” means a spirit derived from the fermentation of carbohydrate material and rectified at a strength of not less than ninety-five per centum of absolute alcohol;“revenue lock” or “revenue rod” means any lock or rod s the case may be, affixed by an officer to any premises, other storage places or goods, for the protection of the revenue;“roll tobacco” means—(a)leaf tobacco which is grown in Zimbabwe and is twisted and put up for sale in the form of a roll, which is commonly known in Zimbabwe as roll tobacco;(b)tobacco grown in Zimbabwe and made up into balls and commonly known as inyoka tobacco;“rum” means—(a)a distillate resulting from the distillation of the fermented juice of sugar cane or its by-products at a strength not exceeding eighty-two comma eight per centum of absolute alcohol; or(b)a mixture of two or more distillates as defined in paragraph (a); or(c)a distillate or mixture of distillates as defined in paragraph (a) or (b) compounded with rectified spirit derived from sugar cane or its by-products so, however, that the finished product contains not less than twenty per centum of distillate referred to in paragraph (a) calculated at absolute alcohol;and includes synthetic or imitation rum which means a potable liquor containing more than one comma seven per centum of absolute alcohol and which purports to have or has the appearance and flavour of rum but was produced by methods other than those specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c);“sealable goods” means—(a)tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and any other preparations of tobacco or substitutes therefor;(b)wet goods;(c)opium and preparations of opium in any form;(d)cocaine, preparations of cocaine and other habit-forming drugs;(e)articles brought or intended as gifts for, or for sale to or for exchange with, any person;(f)all goods liable to excise duty or surtax and on which duty has not been paid, shipped at a place in Zimbabwe as ship’s or aircraft stores;(g)any other goods which may from time to time be declared by rule or regulation to be sealable goods;“ship” includes any ship, vessel or boat of any kind whatsoever, whether propelled by steam or otherwise or towed;“smuggling” means any importation, introduction or exportation or attempted importation, introduction or exportation of goods with intent to defraud the State or to evade any prohibition of, restriction on or regulation as to, the importation, introduction or exportation of any goods required to be accounted for under this Act, and “smuggle” and “smuggled goods” have corresponding meanings;“spirits” means—(a)ethyl alcohol; and(b)feints; and(c)potable liquid containing more than one comma seven per centum of absolute alcohol obtained by any process other than fermentation;but does not include a fermented potable liquid which has been fortified by the addition of spirits;“stamp label” means any piece of paper or other material, having thereon the stamp, mark or impression of any die, plate or other instrument, made or used under this Act for the purpose of denoting any duty;“State warehouse” means any premises appointed by the Commissioner in terms of section two hundred and thirty-two;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“still” includes any part of a still and any distilling apparatus whatever;“surtax tariff” means the surtax tariff imposed in terms of section two hundred and twenty-five, as amended or replaced from time to time in terms of that section;“tobacco refuse” means scrap tobacco, tobacco waste, tobacco clippings or stems or deposits of tobacco resulting from any processing or handling of leaf tobacco;“transit shed” means any premises appointed by the Commissioner in terms of subsection (1) of section eighteen for the deposit of uncustomed goods;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“uncustomed goods” means goods liable to duty on which the full duties have not been paid, and any goods, whether liable to duty or not, which, being required to be accounted for in terms of this Act, have not been so accounted for;“vehicle” means any train, motor car, van, lorry, cart or other conveyance of any kind, except a ship or aircraft, and includes fittings, furnishings and equipment thereof and also animals and their harness and tackle;“visitor” means a traveller who is not resident in Zimbabwe;“warehouse” means a warehouse, bonded and licensed in terms of section sixty-eight, in which goods may be lodged, kept and secured without the payment of duty or until the requirements of this Act have been satisfied, and includes any store, house, shed, yard or other place in which goods are so lodged;“wash” means the liquid from any substance prepared for distillation after fermentation has commenced;“weight” means—(a)in relation to tobacco, the net weight of such tobacco plus the weight of the moisture and other substances contained therein at the time of manufacture; and(b)in relation to cigarettes, the weight of the cigarettes as a whole including the weight of the tobacco, the paper or other wrapping material and the tipping material, if any;“wet goods” means potable liquid of any description containing more than one comma seven per centum of absolute alcohol, other than honey beer;“wine”—(a)means any potable liquid derived by the fermentation of the juices of fruit or vegetables or fruit or vegetable products; and(b)includes fortified wine;but does not include opaque beer, cider or perry;“wort” means any liquid or substance containing saccharine matter before fermentation has commenced.“Zimbabwe Revenue Authority” means the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority established by section 3 of the Revenue Authority Act [Chapter 23:11].[definition inserted by Act 17 of 1999]

3. Commissioner of Customs and Excise

(1)[subsection repealed by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)[subsection repealed by Act 17 of 1999]
(3)[subsection repealed by Act 17 of 1999]
(4)The Commissioner may confer all or any of the powers and impose all or any of the duties of an officer in terms of this Act upon any person or class of persons:Provided that the Commissioner shall not confer any such powers or impose any such duties upon a person who is—
(a)a member of the Public Service, except with the consent of and subject to such conditions as may be fixed by the Public Service Commission and the Minister responsible for the Ministry in which that person is employed; or
(b)a member of the Prison Service, except with the consent of and subject to such conditions as may be fixed by the Commissioner of Prisons and the Public Service Commission; or
(c)a police officer, except with the consent of and subject to such conditions as may be fixed by the Commissioner of Police and the Police Service Commission; or
(d)a member of the Regular Force of the Defence Forces, except with the consent of and subject to such conditions as may be fixed by the Commander of the branch of the Defence Forces concerned and the Defence Forces Service Commission; or
(e)not a person referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), except with the consent of that person.

4. ***

[section repealed Act 17 of 1999]

Part II – Powers of officers

5. Stationing of officers on ships or trains

The Commissioner, or the proper officer at any port or place in Zimbabwe, may station any officer on any ship or train while such ship or train is within the limits of that port or place, and the master of any ship and the person in charge or control of any train upon which an officer is so stationed shall provide for such officer such accommodation and board as the Commissioner may reasonably require.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

6. Officers to travel free when on duty

Any officer, when travelling on any duty connected with the administration of this Act in any ship or train, shall be entitled to travel free of charge as a passenger of such class as the Commissioner may direct.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

7. Powers of officers in relation to ships, aircraft or vehicles

(1)An officer may board any ship arriving at or being about to depart from any port in Zimbabwe, or being within Zimbabwean waters, and may freely stay on board for so long as he considers necessary for the proper performance of his duties or until all goods laden therein have been delivered from such ship. Such officer shall have free access to and the right to search every part of the ship and to examine all goods and containers on board, shall have power to fasten down hatchways, doors and other openings, to lock up, seal, mark or otherwise secure any goods or containers on board that ship or to remove any goods or containers to a State warehouse or to any other place indicated by the officer, and shall have the right to lock up, seal or otherwise secure the ship’s wireless apparatus.
(2)An officer may enter any train destined for Zimbabwe or any aircraft or vehicle arriving in or being about to depart from Zimbabwe or any aircraft or vehicle within Zimbabwe which is suspected of containing uncustomed goods or goods destined for Zimbabwe and may, mutatis mutandis, exercise the powers provided for in subsection (1).
(3)If any place or any package within or upon any ship, aircraft or vehicle is locked or otherwise secured and the keys thereto or other means of opening it are not produced on demand, the officer may open such place or package in any manner in his power.
(4)An officer may, in the pursuance of his duties, stop and detain within the limits of Zimbabwe any ship, aircraft or vehicle entering or being about to depart from Zimbabwe or any ship, aircraft or vehicle suspected of containing uncustomed goods.
(5)Containers which are locked up or sealed in terms of subsection (1) shall not be interfered with in any way, and no seal may be broken or tampered with before production to an officer.

8. Sealing of goods on ships, aircraft or vehicles

(1)In addition to the powers conferred by section seven, an officer, if he enters any ship, aircraft or vehicle under the powers conferred by section seven, may, subject to such regulations as may be prescribed or to such rules as the Commissioner may make, seal up all sealable goods on the ship, aircraft or vehicle which are either unconsumed stores of the ship, aircraft or vehicle or the personal property or in the possession of the master or pilot or any member of the crew thereof, and the master or pilot and members of the crew shall declare all such sealable goods when called upon by an officer to do so.An officer may also, at his discretion, seal up any goods other than sealable goods in the possession of the master, pilot, members of the crew or passengers on the ship, aircraft or vehicle. Except by the authority of an officer, no seal placed by an officer upon such goods shall be broken or disturbed while the ship, aircraft or vehicle remains at any place in Zimbabwe.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Nothing in this section contained shall in any way affect sections twenty-four, twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight and twenty-nine.
(3)The proper officer may permit surplus stores to be entered for consumption under and subject to the same rules, regulations and duties to which the like kinds of goods would be subject on importation, or permit any surplus stores to be entered and warehoused for future use as ship’s, aircraft or vehicle stores, even if they could not legally be imported for consumption.

9. General powers of officers

(1)An officer may stop and search any person, including any person within or upon any ship, aircraft or vehicle, whom there are reasonable grounds for believing has secreted about him or in his possession any document or thing which may afford evidence of an offence in terms of this Act or any dutiable goods or any goods in respect of which there has been a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act:Provided that—
(i)before being searched, such person may demand to be taken before the proper officer, who may, at his discretion, discharge such person or direct that he be searched;
(ii)a female shall be searched only by a medical practitioner or by a female and the search shall be conducted with strict regard to decency.
(2)Where there are reasonable grounds for believing that it is necessary to do so for the protection of the revenue and the proper administration of this Act, a proper officer appointed for the purposes of this subsection or an officer authorized by such a proper officer may—
(a)without previous notice, at any time enter any office, business premises, store, shop, structure or enclosed area for the reception of goods, for the purpose of making such search, examination and enquiry as he considers necessary, and may seal, mark or otherwise secure any package there found, and may take possession of any document, record or other thing for as long as may be necessary for the purpose of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry;
(b)while he is on such premises or at any other time, require from any person the production then and there, or at a time and place to be fixed by the officer, of any book, document, record, thing or printout or information stored in any information retrieval system which is required under the provisions of this Act to be kept or exhibited, or which is or has been on such premises or in the possession or custody or under the control of any such person or his employee; and
(c)at any time and at any place require from any person who has the possession, custody or control of any such book, record, printout, document or thing as is mentioned in paragraph (b), the production thereof then and there, or at a time and place to be fixed by the officer; and
(d)examine and make extracts from and copies of such books, records, printout or documents as are mentioned in paragraph (b) and may require from any person an explanation of any entry therein and may seize such books, records, printout, documents or things as in his opinion may afford evidence of an offence under this Act; and
(e)take with him on to such premises an assistant or a police officer.
(3)Any person who is in occupation, ownership or control of any premises referred to in subsection (2) and every person employed by him shall at all times furnish such facilities as are required by an officer for entering such premises in the course of his duties and for the exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (2).
(4)If an officer, after having declared his official capacity and his purpose and having demanded admission into any premises referred to in subsection (2) is not immediately admitted thereto, he and any person assisting him may at any time, but during the hours of darkness only in the presence of a police officer, break open any door or window or break through any wall on such premises for the purpose of entry and search.
(5)An officer and any person assisting him may at any time break up any part of any premises referred to in subsection (2) for the purpose of search, and if any safe, chest, box or package is locked or otherwise secured and the keys thereof or other means of opening it are not produced upon demand, may open such safe, chest, box or package by any means at his disposal.
(6)If a search reveals no breach of this Act, any damage done by an officer or person assisting, him shall be made good at the expense of the State, unless such officer or other person has been obstructed in the exercise of his powers under this section.
(7)Upon any such examination or inspection as is referred to in this section or in respect of any matter connected with the provisions of this Act, an officer shall have the right to put such questions to any person as may be required for obtaining all necessary information.

10. Taking of samples

An officer may at any time take, without payment, samples of any goods for examination or for ascertaining the duties payable thereon or for such other purpose as the Commissioner may consider necessary, and such samples shall be dealt with and accounted for in such manner as the Commissioner may direct:Provided that any sample so taken shall, whenever possible, be returned to the owner of the goods.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

11. Opening of packages

(1)An officer may require the owner of any package, imported or believed to have been imported into Zimbabwe or entered for export or believed to be intended for export from Zimbabwe, or containing or suspected of containing any goods which are liable to duty, or required to be accounted for in terms of this Act, to open such package, and may examine, weigh, mark or seal such goods as are contained therein.
(2)An officer may in the absence of the owner of any such package as is mentioned in subsection (1) open and examine such package at the owner’s risk and expense.

12. Opening of postal articles

(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, an officer may open and examine any postal article which is to be sent outside Zimbabwe or which has been received from outside Zimbabwe for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not it contains any goods liable to seizure.
(2)If upon examination in terms of subsection (1)—
(a)an officer discovers in the postal article any goods which he has reasonable grounds for believing are liable to seizure, he may seize those goods and the postal article concerned and section one hundred and ninety-three shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in relation thereto; or
(b)an officer discovers in the postal article no goods referred to in paragraph (a), he shall release the postal article for delivery to the person to whom it is addressed or his representative on payment of the duty, if any, payable thereon.
(3)In this section—“liable to seizure” has the meaning given to it in section one hundred and ninety-three;“postal article” has the meaning given to it in section 2 of the Postal and Telecommunication Services Act [Chapter 12:02].

13. Arrest of offenders by proper officers

If a proper officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that any person has contravened any provision of this Act, such proper officer may—
(a)take such person forthwith to a police station and lay a charge against him; or
(b)if there is no police station in the vicinity, take such person forthwith before a magistrate with a view to obtaining a warrant for his arrest.

Part III – Importation of goods

14. Ports of entry and routes

(1)The Minister may, subject to such conditions as he may specify, by order in a statutory instrument—
(a)appoint places to be ports for Zimbabwe at or through which alone goods may be imported or exported;
(b)define the roads or routes in Zimbabwe over which imported goods or goods intended for export shall be conveyed to or from a particular port;
(c)appoint places within Zimbabwe as warehousing ports where bonded warehouses may be established in terms of section sixty-eight;
(d)appoint places within Zimbabwe to be customs aerodromes at which aircraft entering Zimbabwe may land, from which aircraft leaving Zimbabwe may depart and through which alone goods may be imported or exported by air;
(e)specify the hours during which goods shall not be imported or exported without the special permission in writing of the proper officer;
(f)appoint custom houses within Zimbabwe or beyond its borders for the collection of revenue and the general administration of the provisions of this Act except, in the case of custom houses situated beyond the borders of Zimbabwe, such provisions as refer to excise or to other matters which cannot properly be dealt with outside Zimbabwe;
(g)specify the custom houses or customs posts at which uncustomed goods consigned to certain places within Zimbabwe or imported by passengers shall be entered;
(h)direct that goods consigned to such place or area within Zimbabwe as he may specify shall only be imported when entry has been effected at such custom house as he may specify and thereupon such goods shall only be imported in accordance with the terms of such direction.
(i)specify that entry of uncustomed goods or goods in the baggage or upon the person of passengers travelling to Zimbabwe by railway train shall be made on board the train, whether within Zimbabwe or beyond its borders.
(2)The Minister may, subject to such conditions as he may specify, by order in a statutory instrument or otherwise—
(a)appoint ports within Zimbabwe for particular or limited purposes and for such periods as may be specified in the order; and
(b)appoint customs posts within Zimbabwe for particular or limited purposes.

15. Establishment of customs barriers

(1)The Commissioner may establish customs barriers on any road or route for the control of imports and exports.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Any person who fails to stop at a customs barrier established in terms of subsection (1) or who breaks or damages such barrier shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection amended by Act 22 of 2001]

16. Prohibition of importation or exportation except through appointed ports or by defined routes

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), all ships, aircraft and vehicles and all persons engaged in importing or exporting goods shall enter or leave Zimbabwe through ports or through aerodromes appointed in terms of section fourteen, and shall follow such routes as may have been appointed or defined under such section, and shall comply with all such rules and regulations as may under the provisions of this or any other enactment be in force for the protection of the revenue and trade of Zimbabwe.
(2)The Commissioner may, in special circumstances, permit, subject to such conditions as he may fix, ships, aircraft and vehicles and persons engaged in importing or exporting goods to enter or leave Zimbabwe through places or aerodromes or by routes other than those appointed or defined in terms of section fourteen.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(3)Any pipeline through which goods may be imported or exported shall, for its entire length in Zimbabwe, be laid along a route defined in terms of section fourteen and shall be constructed and operated in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed.
(4)Any person—
(a)contravenes subsection (1); or
(b)contravenes or fails to comply with any condition fixed in terms of subsection (2); or
(c)contravenes any regulations referred to in subsection (3);
shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such find and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]

17. Appointment of landing, loading and examination places

(1)The Commissioner may appoint at any port places for the landing and embarkation of persons, and the landing, loading and examination of goods, including baggage, and may from time to time make such rules and lay down such conditions in connection therewith as he considers necessary.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Where, at any port, a place has been appointed in terms of this section, any person who lands or loads goods otherwise than at such place, except with the written permission of the Commissioner, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection amended by Act 22 of 2001]

18. Appointment of transit sheds and customs areas and licensing of other places

(1)Subject to this section, the Commissioner may appoint and license sheds or places erected, owned or occupied by any carrier or by the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation as transit sheds or customs areas into which goods may, before entry, be removed from a ship, aircraft or vehicle.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(1a)The Commissioner may impose terms and conditions on a licence issued in terms of subsection (1), including terms and conditions as to the following matters—
(a)requiring the licensee—
(i)to enter into a bond with sufficient surety, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, for ensuring the payment of duty and compliance with the requirements of this Act in respect of goods delivered or to be delivered to the transit shed or customs area;
(ii)to maintain records in respect of the movement and delivery of all goods into and from the transit shed or customs area;
(iii)not to permit the removal of any goods from the transit shed or customs area until entry has been made and all the requirements of this Act have been satisfied;
(b)the cancellation or suspension of the licence in the event of the licensee failing to comply with any requirement of this Act or with any condition of his bond referred to in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a).
[subsection inserted by Act 29 of 1998]
(1b)A licence issued in terms of subsection (1) shall expire on the 31st December in the year in which it was issued but may be renewed for further periods of a year.[subsection inserted by Act 29 of 1998]
(2)The owner or occupier of a transit shed or customs area appointed in terms of subsection (1) shall, if required by the Commissioner, provide free of charge, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner—
(a)office accommodation and other facilities for use by officers stationed at the transit shed or customs area; and
(b)other accommodation for the storage and protection of goods.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(3)The owner or occupier of a transit shed or customs area appointed in terms of subsection (1) shall be responsible for the maintenance of the accommodation and facilities referred to in subsection (2).

19. Appointment of container depots

(1)The Commissioner may appoint and license places as container depots for the storage, detention, unpacking and examination of containers or the contents of containers or for the delivery to importers of contents of containers after such contents have been duly entered, subject to the following conditions and such other conditions and safeguards as the Commissioner may specify—
(a)the licensee shall enter into a bond with sufficient surety, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, for the securing of the duty and compliance with the requirements of this Act in respect of goods delivered or to be delivered to the container depot; and
(b)the proprietor or occupier of a container depot shall, as long as there is space available in his depot, give accommodation at a reasonable and uniform charge for the goods of other importers; and
(c)the licensee shall maintain records in respect of the movement, unpacking and delivery of all goods and shall, when required to do so by an officer, make the records available to the officer; and
(d)the licensee shall not permit the removal of any goods from the depot until entry has been made and all the requirements of this Act have been satisfied; and
(e)licences issued in terms of this section shall expire on the 31st December in each year; and
(f)if the licensee fails to comply with the conditions of his bond or fails to comply with this Act or any instruction given by the Commissioner in any matter connected with the administration of this Act, the Commissioner may cancel or suspend his licence immediately or refuse to renew it.
(2)The owner of a container depot shall provide free of charge and maintain to the satisfaction of the Commissioner—
(a)suitable office accommodation and other facilities for use by any officers whom the Commissioner may station at the container depot; and
(b)a suitable and secure place for the storage and protection of goods.
[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

20. Appointment of private railway sidings

(1)The Commissioner may appoint and license private railway sidings as places where uncustomed goods, other than containerized-goods, may be delivered to the licensee by the National Railways of Zimbabwe, subject to the following conditions and such other conditions and safeguards as the Commissioner may specify—
(a)the goods delivered to the private railway siding shall be for the use of the licensee only; and
(b)the licensee shall enter into a bond with sufficient surety, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, for the securing of the duty and compliance with the requirements of this Act in respect of goods delivered or to be delivered to the licenced private siding; and
(c)the goods shall not be taken into stock, sold or otherwise disposed of until entry thereof has been made and all the requirements of this Act have been satisfied; and
(d)licences issued in terms of this section shall expire on the 31st December in each year; and
(e)if the licensee fails to comply with the conditions of his bond or fails to comply with this Act or any instructions given by the Commissioner in any other matter connected with the administration of this Act, the Commissioner may cancel or suspend his licence immediately or refuse to renew it.
[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

21. Uncustomed goods not to be removed

(1)With the exception of—
(a)goods which are removed to a State warehouse or other place of security at the direction of an officer; and
(b)goods which are removed to a place licensed in terms of section eighteen, nineteen or twenty; and
(c)goods which, having been entered for warehousing, are removed to a warehouse licensed in terms of section sixty-eight or to a place approved in terms of subsection (2) of section seventy;
no uncustomed goods shall be removed from any ship, aircraft, vehicle or container to any place.
(1a)Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a)a fine not exceeding level twelve or three times the duty-paid value of the goods that are the subject of the offence, whichever is the greater; or
(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years;
or to both such fine or imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]
(2)The importer of any goods shall be responsible for all fees or charges due to the State in respect of lighterage, wharfage and handling and transportation to a transit shed, customs area, container depot, State warehouse or other place under customs control.

22. Entrance and exit to or from customs areas

(1)The Commissioner may, subject to such restrictions and conditions as he may specify, appoint entrances and exits generally or specially to or from any customs area within Zimbabwe.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Where entrances to or exits from a customs area have been appointed in terms of subsection (1), no person or vehicle shall enter or leave and no goods, whether dutiable or not, shall be brought into or taken out of such area otherwise than through an entrance or exit so appointed.
(2a)Any person who contravenes subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]
(3)Any person or vehicle entering or leaving any customs area and all goods which are being brought into or out of such area may be detained by any officer for the purpose of search or examination.

23. Vehicles entering or leaving customs areas

(1)The driver or person in charge or having the control of any vehicle which is within or is entering or leaving any customs area in which there is a customs officer or where an officer is stationed shall, when requested to do so by an officer by word, sign or in any other manner, cause the vehicle to stop for the purpose of search and examination, and no person shall cause the vehicle to be set in motion again until permitted by such officer to do so.
(2)Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]

24. Submission of train manifests, etc to proper officer

[heading substituted by Act 10 of 2009]
(1)In this section—“responsible person” means, in relation to a train carrying uncustomed goods, the stationmaster or other person in charge of the railway station at the port, the person in charge of the train, the representative of the shipping line that entrained the goods, or whoever it appears to the proper officer is the most appropriate person to comply with this section;“shipping line” means a service for the shipment of goods or passengers by land, sea or air.[subsection substituted by Act 10 of 2009]
(1a)Upon the arrival at any port of any train carrying uncustomed goods, the responsible person shall submit to the proper officer—
(a)a train manifest detailing the goods in each container entering Zimbabwe on the train; and
(b)copies of all invoices, waybills or other documents relating to the goods conveyed by train and consigned to that station or required to be entered at that port.
[subsection inserted by Act 10 of 2009]
(2)The conductor or guard or any other person in charge of a train whether within Zimbabwe or beyond its borders shall on demand by an officer furnish that officer with all information at his disposal in respect of any goods on such train, including sealable goods, whether such goods are for consumption, stores or the personal property or in the possession of any member of the crew or the person in charge of the train.
(3)The responsible person shall deliver to the officers of customs concerned copies of all advice and delivery notes and such other documents as may be required relating to goods detained at the ports from which delivery of such goods may be authorized.[subsection amended by Act 10 of 2009]
(4)With the exception of goods which are removed to a place licensed in terms of section twenty, no responsible person at a port, without the written permission of an officer, permit uncustomed goods required to be entered at that port and conveyed to that station in any train to be removed from the transit shed or customs area appointed for such station or to be forwarded to any other railway station, and it shall be an offence to remove any goods from such shed or area before delivery or removal has been authorized by an officer.[subsection amended by Act 10 of 2009]
(5)With the exception of containers which are removed to a container depot licensed in terms of section nineteen, no responsible person at a port shall, without the written permission of an officer, deliver any uncleared containers to any private siding or any other railway station.[subsection amended by Act 10 of 2009]
(6)No responsible person shall, without the written permission of an officer, deliver to the consignee or any other person at his station any goods which are required to be entered at any other station.[subsection amended by Act 10 of 2009]
(7)No person, being the proprietor or lessee of a private railway siding, may receive railway trucks containing uncustomed goods into his private siding unless he has been granted a licence by the Commissioner in terms of section twenty.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(8)Any person who contravenes subsection (1), (2), (3) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]
(9)Any person who contravenes subsection (4), (6) or (7) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a)a fine not exceeding level twelve or three times the duty-paid value of the goods that are the subject of the offence, whichever is the greater; or
(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years;
or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]

25. Postmaster-General to report goods imported by post

The Postmaster-General shall report by means of a manifest or in any other approved manner, all goods or parcels that arrive by post from outside Zimbabwe and shall produce them to an officer for examination.

26. Person in charge of vehicle to report goods in his or her charge

(1)In this section—“customs port” means a port of entry into or exit from Zimbabwe, and includes an aerodrome declared to be a port in terms of section 14;“omnibus” means a motor vehicle having—
(a)a net mass exceeding two thousand three hundred (2300) kilograms; and
(b)seating accommodation for eight or more passengers;
“goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle, including an articulated vehicle, constructed or adapted for the conveyance of goods, which has—
(a)a carrying capacity of more than ten tonnes; or
(b)in the case of a motor vehicle whose carrying capacity is ten tonnes or less but which is drawing one or more trailers, a combined carrying capacity of more than five tonnes.
(2)The person in charge of any vehicle, other than a railway train, shall—
(a)in the case where the vehicle is an omnibus or goods vehicle for the conveyance of passengers or goods for profit, no later than three hours before arrival of the vehicle at the port of entry (or within such shorter time as the Commissioner may allow), transmit to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority at the destined port of entry manifests of the passengers, crew and goods being conveyed by the vehicle, signed by the person authorised to sign such manifests at the place of departure for Zimbabwe; and
(b)on arriving in Zimbabwe, whether conveying goods or not, proceed immediately with the vehicle to the custom house or customs post at the port of entry and, before unloading or in any manner disposing of such vehicle or goods, make full report in such manner as the officer may require or as may be prescribed concerning the vehicle, the goods in his or her possession or charge and the journey or destination of such goods.
(3)If, for the purpose of subsection (2)(b), a report in writing is prescribed or required by the officer, such person shall make and subscribe before the officer a declaration, at the foot of the report, as to the truth of the same, and shall answer to the best of his or her knowledge all such questions and produce all waybills or other documents relating to the goods, freight and journey as may be demanded of him or her by such officer.
(4)No person shall remove a vehicle mentioned in subsection (2) from the custom house or customs post mentioned in that subsection until permission for removal has been granted by an officer.
(5)Any person who fails to comply with any requirement of subsection (2), (3) or (4) with which it is his or her duty to comply, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[section inserted by Act 9 of 2011]

27. Persons to report goods in their possession

(1)Any person arriving in Zimbabwe shall—
(a)whether or not he has goods in his possession, proceed directly—
(i)in the case of a person arriving by ship or vehicle, other than a railway train, to the custom house or customs post at the place of arrival;
(ii)in the case of a person arriving by aircraft, to the customs post or the officer at the aerodrome of first landing or such other aerodrome as the Commissioner may direct;
(iii)in the case of a person arriving on foot, to the custom house or customs post nearest to the point at which he crossed the border;
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(b)in the case of a person in possession of uncustomed goods arriving by railway train, proceed directly to the customs post or the officer at the place appointed in accordance with this Act.
(2)Any person—
(a)being on a railway train destined for Zimbabwe; or
(b)after proceeding as required by subsection (1);
shall—
(i)if called upon by an officer to do so, unreservedly declare all the goods in his possession in such manner as the officer may require and shall fully and truthfully answer any questions put to him by the officer; and
(ii)if so required, produce the goods referred to in subparagraph (i) for inspection by an officer;
and shall not in any manner dispose of any goods in his possession until they have been released by an officer.
(3)In this section—“goods” includes Zimbabwean and foreign currency.

28. Report of aircraft

(1)The pilot of every aircraft arriving in Zimbabwe, whether with or without goods or passengers, shall, except with the special permission of the Commissioner or as required by any law relating to aviation, make his first landing at one of the aerodromes appointed in terms of paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section fourteen and shall forthwith take his aircraft to the customs post at that aerodrome:Provided that this subsection shall not apply if the pilot proves to the satisfaction of an officer that he was compelled to land elsewhere or could not take his aircraft to such post owing to stress of weather, unavoidable accident or other circumstances beyond his control.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Within three hours after the landing at a customs aerodome of an aircraft from a place outside Zimbabwe or within such further time as the Commissioner may allow, but in any event before any goods are unloaded from the aircraft, the pilot shall—
(a)make a report to the officer on duty in such manner and in such form as may be prescribed; and
(b)answer to the best of his or her knowledge all questions concerning the aircraft and cargo and the crew and passengers and journey as are put to him or her by the officer on duty.
[subsection substituted by Act 4 of 2012]
(3)When making the report referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (2), the pilot shall, if required to do so by the officer on duty, provide the officer with—
(a)the particulars of the arrival and journey of the aircraft; and
(b)a list of sealable goods on board, whether such goods are for consumption, stores or the personal property or in the possession of the pilot or any member of the crew; and
(c)a list of the passengers and crew; and[paragraph substituted by Act 4 of 2012]
(d)manifests of the goods on board, signed by the person authorised to sign such manifests at the aerodrome from which the aircraft departed for Zimbabwe.[paragraph inserted by Act 4 of 2012]
(4)The pilot shall, if required to do so by the officer, disembark from the aircraft all passengers and their baggage for examination
(5)Except with the permission of an officer—
(a)no person shall enter any aircraft carrying goods or passengers in transit through Zimbabwe while such aircraft remains at any aerodrome within Zimbabwe;
(b)no person shall enter any aircraft which has arrived at a customs aerodrome from beyond the borders of Zimbabwe until report has been made in terms of this section and the officer has carried out such examination of the aircraft and any goods contained therein as he may consider necessary.
(6)If an aircraft flying from outside Zimbabwe lands within Zimbabwe at any place other than a customs aerodrome, the pilot shall forthwith report to the official in charge of any aerodrome at such place or, if there is no aerodrome there, to the nearest officer, magistrate or police officer, and shall on demand produce to such person all papers belonging to the aircraft and shall not allow any goods to be unloaded from the aircraft without the consent of such person. Save for reasons of health or safety or in order to report in terms of this subsection, no person shall leave the immediate vicinity of the place of landing without the consent of such official in charge, officer, magistrate or police officer.
(7)Any person who fails to comply with any requirement of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) with which it is his or her duty to comply, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection substituted by Act 9 of 2011]

29. Report of arrival of ships

(1)The master of a ship carrying uncustomed goods arriving in Zimbabwe shall not call at any place therein other than a port appointed in terms of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section fourteen unless forced to do so by stress of weather, accident or other circumstances beyond his control, in which case he shall come to the custom house or customs post at the first port at which the ship afterwards arrives and there make full report to the proper officer concerning the circumstances which so forced him.
(2)The master of every ship carrying uncustomed goods arriving at any port in Zimbabwe shall—
(a)within twenty-four hours after the ship’s arrival and before any goods are discharged, come to the custom house or customs post at that port and there—
(i)make a report in writing in the form prescribed or in such other form as the Commissioner may direct, with as many copies or extracts as the proper officer may require;
(ii)make and subscribe to a declaration as to the truth of the report, before the proper officer, and answer to the best of his knowledge all such questions concerning the ship and cargo and the crew, passengers and voyage as may be put to him by that officer;
(b)produce, if required, the official log books for the voyage, the stowage plans and any other documents in his possession relating to the cargo.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(3)The report referred to in subsection (2) shall state—
(a)the particulars of the arrival and voyage of the ship; and
(b)the name, country, tonnage and port of registry of the ship; and
(c)the name and nationality of the master and the owners of the ship; and
(d)the number of the crew; and
(e)whether the ship is laden or in ballast; and shall include—
(i)a list of sealable goods on board, whether such goods are for consumption, stores or the personal property or in the possession of the master or any member of the crew; and
(ii)a list of the passengers; and
(iii)a manifest, in the prescribed form, of goods on board.
(4)When the ship is granted clearance to leave the port, the manifest, bills of lading or other documents in respect of goods on board not consigned to Zimbabwe shall be returned to the master, and the manifest or bills of lading for goods consigned to any other port in Zimbabwe shall likewise be returned to the master but enclosed with a copy or extract of the report and under the seal of the proper officer, which sealed copy or extract shall be delivered by the master to the proper officer at such other port.

30. Report or production of documents may be dispensed with by Commissioner

When a ship arrives at one port in Zimbabwe and proceeds to another port or other ports in Zimbabwe, the Commissioner may, subject to such rules and under such conditions as he may prescribe, dispense with the report mentioned in section twenty-nine and with the production of the manifest or bills of lading at any port other than the first port.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

31. Report by operator of pipeline

The nature and quantities of goods imported or exported through a pipeline shall be recorded and reported by the operator of the pipeline in such manner as the Commissioner may direct, and for the purpose of keeping such record and making such report the operator shall, at his own expense, provide such apparatus and appliances as the Commissioner may specify.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

32. Report may be amended

If a report required in terms of section twenty-six, twenty-eight, twenty-nine or thirty-one is found to be in any way incomplete or incorrect, the proper officer may, if he is satisfied that there was no fraudulent intention, permit the report to be amended by the person who made it.

33. Cargo may remain on board ship or aircraft

With the permission of and under conditions imposed by the proper officer at any port or customs aerodrome, the master of a ship or the pilot of an aircraft may retain on board cargo consigned to that port or aerodrome or may land at that port or aerodrome cargo not consigned thereto.

34. Liability for duty

(1)The master of a ship, the pilot of an aircraft or the owner or person in charge of any other vehicle, as the case may be, shall, unless the goods have been imported in contravention of this Act or any other enactment, be liable for the duty on all goods which are removed from the said ship, aircraft or other vehicle at any place in Zimbabwe other than that to which they have been consigned or at which they are required to be entered and such liability shall continue until the goods have been accounted for to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)In all cases where under subsection (1) liability for duty does not rest upon the master of a ship, the pilot of an aircraft, or the owner or person in charge of any other vehicle, liability for duty on all imported goods or goods deemed to have been imported in terms of section thirty-six shall rest upon the importer, or in the case of goods consigned to Zimbabwe, upon the person within Zimbabwe who deals with the goods on behalf of the owner thereof.[subsection substituted by Act 18 of 2000]
(3)If it can be shown before delivery of any goods has been granted that such goods have been wrongly consigned or addressed to Zimbabwe or have been imported through error or oversight on the part of the master of a ship, the pilot of an aircraft or the owner or person in charge of any other vehicle, the Commissioner may allow the said goods to be exported without the payment of duty under such conditions as he may impose.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(4)In this section—“duty” includes any import tax which is payable in terms of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12].[subsection amended by Act 12 of 2002]

35. Master, pilot or pipeline operator may appoint agent

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in sections twenty-six, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty-one, fifty-one and fifty-two, the master of a ship, the person in charge of any vehicle other than a railway train, the pilot of an aircraft or the operator of a pipeline, instead of himself performing any act, including the answering of questions, required by or under any of those sections to be performed by him, may, at his own risk., appoint an agent to perform any such act, and any such act performed by such agent shall in all respects and for all purposes be deemed to be the act of the master, person in charge, pilot or operator, as the case may be, so, however, that the personal attendance of the master, person in charge, pilot or operator may be demanded at any time by the proper officer.

36. Goods deemed to have been imported

All goods reported under this Part or shown on the bill of lading, manifest, consignment note, waybill or other document as having been consigned to Zimbabwe shall be deemed to have been imported unless it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that they were not imported.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

37. Time of importation

(1)With the exception of goods imported by post, the time of importation of any goods into Zimbabwe shall be deemed to be—
(a)where goods are imported by ship, the time when the goods are unloaded in Zimbabwe or the time when the ship arrives at its first port of call in Zimbabwe, whichever is the earlier;
(b)where goods are imported by aircraft, the time when the goods are unloaded in Zimbabwe or the time when the aircraft makes its first landing in Zimbabwe from abroad, whichever is the earlier;
(c)where goods are imported by train, the time when the goods are unloaded in Zimbabwe or the time when the train arrives at the first port of entry in Zimbabwe, whichever is the earlier;
(d)where goods are imported by pipeline, the time when the goods are discharged from the pipeline in Zimbabwe or the time when the goods pass through the first metered point on the pipeline within Zimbabwe, whichever is the earlier;
(e)where goods are imported by means other than ships, aircraft, trains or pipeline, the time when the goods cross the borders of Zimbabwe.
(f)where goods are imported from an export processing zone in terms of paragraph (b) of section sixty-five, the time when the goods cross the boundary of the export processing zone.[paragraph inserted by Act 18 of 2000]
(2)The time of importation of any goods imported into Zimbabwe by post shall be deemed to be the time when the goods arrive at the post office where duty is assessed.

38. No importation without entry

(1)No goods shall be imported into Zimbabwe without entry being made and without the duty being paid or secured.
(2)The owner or occupier of a customs area or transit shed shall not remove or permit the removal of uncustomed goods placed in the customs area or transit shed without written authority from an officer, and no person shall remove or take delivery of uncustomed goods from a customs area or transit shed without written authority from an officer.
(3)No carrier of goods or operator of a pipeline shall remove or discharge or permit the removal or discharge of uncustomed goods from the ship, aircraft, vehicle or pipeline in his charge or control without written authority from an officer, and no person shall remove, discharge or take delivery of uncustomed goods from any ship, aircraft, vehicle or pipeline without written authority from an officer.
(4)In subsection (1)—“duty” includes any import tax which is payable in terms of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12].[definition amended by Act 12 of 2002]

39. Entry of goods to be made

(1)Subject to any regulations, every importer of goods shall make entry of those goods at the port of entry—
(a)at the time of importation; or
(b)in the case of goods which are to be removed to a place appointed in terms of section eighteen or nineteen, within ten days after the time of their importation;
as defined in section thirty-seven:Provided that the Commissioner may in any case, including a case referred to in paragraph (b), grant an extension of time within which goods shall be entered.
(2)In default of entry in terms of subsection (1), the proper officer may cause the goods to be conveyed to a State warehouse or to any other place indicated by him or may himself so remove them, and if entry is not made within sixty days, together with payment of any duty due and all charges of removal and warehouse rent, the Commissioner may, subject to this section, cause the goods to be sold by public auction, if they have not been entered before the date fixed for their sale:[subsection amended by Act 10 of 2009]Provided that goods which are of no commercial value need not be offered for sale by public auction and the Commissioner may order that such goods be sold out of hand or destroyed or appropriated to the State without payment of compensation.
(3)Any sale by public auction in terms of subsection (2) shall, subject to the provisions of this section, take place at a place and time notified by the Commissioner in the Gazette at least a month before such sale.
(4)The offer for sale by public auction shall be subject to a reserve of an amount—
(a)sufficient to cover the duty and the expenses incurred in connection with the sale; and
(b)in the case of goods of a substantially similar description to goods that are manufactured and sold in Zimbabwe, equivalent to the best price the goods would have fetched in the local market in the financial year preceding that in which the auction is held:
Provided that—
(i)paragraph (b) shall only apply to goods of the description therein referred to which are specified by the Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette;
(ii)the Commissioner may by direction, in relation to goods not referred to in proviso (i), accept such bid below the reserve as he or she deems adequate;
(iii)if the goods are not sold at such sale they may, by direction of the Commissioner, be sold out of hand or destroyed or appropriated to the State without compensation.
[subsection substituted by Act 9 of 2011]
(5)If the goods are unsuitable for storage or are of a dangerous or perishable nature, or if the Commissioner considers that the proceeds will not be sufficient to cover the duty and the expenses incurred in connection with the auction sale, he may direct that they be sold immediately out of hand. If such goods cannot be sold immediately out of hand, the Commissioner may direct that they be destroyed or appropriated to the State without compensation.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(6)The proceeds of any sale in terms of subsection (2), (4) or (5) shall be applied in payment of—
(a)the duty due and any expenses incurred in connection with the sale;
(b)any carriage charges due to any carrier;
(c)any warehouse rent, storage charges, including storage charges due to any carrier, and porterage charges;
in that order and if the balance of such proceeds after making the payments referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) is insufficient to pay in full for the expenses referred to in paragraph (c) it shall be applied pro rata to the payment of such expenses.
(7)Any balance remaining after the proceed of any sale have been applied in terms of subsection (6) shall, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the goods in question were imported in contravention of any enactment, be paid on application to the importer or to the person who would have been entitled to receive the goods if entry had been made and the duty paid.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(8)In this section—“duty” includes any import tax which is payable in terms of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12].[definition amended by Act 12 of 2002]

40. Entry of imported goods

(1)Subject to subsection (2) and of sections forty-five and forty-six, the person making entry of any imported goods shall—
(a)deliver to the proper officer a bill of entry, with such number of copies thereof as may be prescribed or required by that officer, which sets forth the full particulars as indicated on the prescribed form and as required by that officer, and, where direct trader input facilities exist, record the required information on the customs computer system using procedures approved by the Commissioner;[paragraph substituted by Act 18 of 2000]
(b)make and subscribe to a declaration in the prescribed form—
(i)as to the correctness of the particulars on the bill of entry; and
(ii)except in the case of an importer of such goods as may be prescribed, as to whether or not he is related to the supplier of the imported goods within the meaning of subsection (3) of section one hundred and four;
and
(c)unless the goods are entered to be warehoused or to be removed in bond, pay the duty due thereon on the date of entry or, subject to such conditions as the Commissioner-General may prescribe, no later than seven days from the date of entry; and[paragraph substituted by Act 3 of 2009]
(d)produce all bills of lading, invoices or other documents relating to the goods or their value, including, if required, the declarations and certificates referred to in section forty-two, and answer all such questions relating to the goods as may be demanded of or put to him by the proper officer; and.
(e)if required, produce for retention by the proper officer a true copy of any invoice or other document relating to the goods.
(f)in the case of motor-vehicles, pay the prescribed registration fee.[paragraph inserted by PART IV of Act 18 of 2000]
(1a)If a bill of entry, declaration or other document delivered, produced or prepared in terms of subsection (1)—
(a)is incomplete; or
(b)is incorrect in regard to the nature, quantity, value or origin of the goods concerned; or
(c)fails to disclose correctly all the information that the proper officer may require;
the proper officer may release the goods on condition that the person making entry deposits with him a sum determined by the proper officer as security for the production of a complete or corrected document within a period of three months.[subsection inserted by Act 29 of 1998]
(1b)If, after a person has made a deposit in terms of subsection (1a), he does not produce the complete or corrected document within the three-month period referred to in that subsection, the deposit shall be forfeited to the State unless the Commissioner directs otherwise.[subsection inserted by Act 29 of 1998]
(2)Where—
(a)goods are imported temporarily; or
(b)goods are imported in the baggage or upon the person of a passenger and are not merchandise; or
(c)goods are not merchandise or goods imported in the baggage or upon the person of a passenger; or
(d)merchandise is valued at not more than the prescribed amount;[paragraph amended by act 29 of 1998]
the presentation of a bill of entry may be dispensed with and entry may be effected in such other manner as may be prescribed or, where no such manner has been prescribed, in such manner as the Commissioner may direct.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(3)In subsection (1)—“duty” includes any import tax which is payable in terms of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12].[definition amended by Act 12 of 2002]

41. Embargo and examination of goods still under customs control

(1)For the purpose of making entry of any imported goods, the importer shall, at his own risk and expense and in the presence of an officer, unload and reload, remove to or from any place indicated by the officer, open, unpack, repack and close up such of his containers or packages as the officer may require for examination, and all charges incurred in the examination of containers or packages or goods shall be borne by the importer.
(2)Where containers or goods have been moved to a place indicated by an officer in terms of subsection (1) or embargoed for purposes of examination, they shall not be removed from that place, nor be opened or have any seals broken or interfered with or dealt with in any way without the permission of an officer.
(3)Any person who represents, either personally or through an agent, to any officer that he is the importer of any goods shall, in respect of those goods, be liable for the fulfilment of all obligations imposed on importers by this Act or any law relating to customs and prosecution for infringements thereof and to penalties and forfeitures incurred thereunder.

42. Commissioner may require certain declarations and certificates

For the purposes of ascertaining the value and origin of any imported goods, the Commissioner may require the importer to produce—
(a)a declaration of value completed by the importer; and
(b)a declaration of particulars relating to the value of the goods for duty purposes; and
(c)a certificate of origin completed by the supplier or manufacturer of the goods;
in such manner and to such effect as may be prescribed.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

43. Entry after sight

(1)If an importer makes and subscribes to a declaration before an officer that he cannot for want of full information make entry of his goods, the proper officer may order the goods to be brought at the expense of the importer to a place indicated by such officer in order that they may be examined in his presence by the importer.
(2)The importer shall make entry of the goods and pay the duty due thereon, or duly warehouse the goods in terms of section seventy, or remove them in bond within ten days of the date on which they were brought to the place of examination, which place shall be regarded as a customs area for the purpose of securing the duties payable upon the goods, until such duties have been paid or the goods are warehoused or removed in bond:Provided that in default of entry the goods shall be taken to the State warehouse and if the importer or his agent does not, within three months after expiry of the aforesaid period, make entry of the goods and pay the duties thereon or duly warehouse them or remove them in bond, and at the same time pay the charges of removal and State warehouse rent and all other charges incurred by the State, the goods may be disposed of in the manner set out in and subject to section thirty-nine.
(3)No goods dealt with in terms of subsection (1) shall be delivered, warehoused or removed without entry and the payment of duty in the case of delivery, and the provisions of this Act in respect of the incorrect or false entry of goods shall also apply in respect of goods dealt with in terms of this section.

44. Particulars of goods in entry

(1)No entry in terms of section forty or subsection (2) of section forty-three shall be valid unless—
(a)particulars of the goods and packages in that entry correspond with the particulars of the goods and packages as reported in terms of section twenty-four, twenty-six, twenty-eight, twenty-nine or thirty-one and in the certificate or other document, where any is required, by which the importation of those goods is authorized; and
(b)the goods have been properly described in the entry by the denomination and with the characters, circumstances and origin according to which they may be imported or are charged with duty; and
(c)the value for duty purposes of the goods in terms of Part X has been declared; and[paragraph amended by Act 29 of 1998]
(d)the free on board value of the goods has been declared; and
(e)the cost, insurance, freight value of the goods has been declared; and
(f)the following documents have been produced to the proper officer—
(i)a sufficient invoice relating to the goods described on the entry; and
(ii)documents relating to freight and insurance on the goods described in the entry; and
(iii)the declarations and certificate referred to in section forty-two and relating to the goods described in the entry; and
(iv)any other document which may be required by or in terms of this Act:
Provided that—
(i)in the absence of any such document or if any such document is incomplete or fails to disclose all the information which the proper officer may require, that officer may, if he thinks fit and as a condition for the release of the goods, permit the person who entered the goods to deposit with him, in lieu of production of the required document, a sum to be determined by that officer and, if the document is not produced within a period specified by that officer, the sum so deposited shall be forfeited to the State unless the Commissioner directs otherwise;
(ii)in the case of goods which are not merchandise for sale, the Commissioner may dispense with the production of an invoice.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Goods taken or delivered by virtue of an entry which is not valid out of any ship, aircraft, vehicle, pipeline, transit shed or bonded warehouse or other place where they have been deposited in terms of this Act shall be deemed to be goods landed or taken without entry, and any person taking or delivering such goods shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)If any goods in respect of which a valid entry has been made—
(a)are delivered to any person from any transit shed or other place where they have been deposited in terms of this Act pending clearance through customs or from any ship, aircraft, pipeline or vehicle; or
(b)are tampered with in any way whatsoever; before authority for delivery has been granted in such manner as may be prescribed, the person delivering or tampering with them shall be guilty of an offence.
(3a)Any person who contravenes subsection (2) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a)a fine not exceeding level twelve or three times the duty-paid value of the goods that are the subject of the offence, whichever is the greater; or
(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years;
or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]
(4)If any particular or amount shown on a document referred to in paragraph (f) of subsection (1) is not true and correct, whether by virtue of any credit or debit passed by the supplier of the goods concerned or of any other change whatsoever that has a direct or indirect effect upon the validity of entry or otherwise, the importer shall forthwith report the matter to the proper officer and shall obtain and produce to that officer an amended document as that officer may require.

45. Form or label affixed to parcels imported through the post

(1)For the purpose of entry and the collection of duty on goods imported into Zimbabwe by post, any form or label affixed to or accompanying the parcel, package or letter packet or any other declaration made under this Act and the statement of value and the particulars as to the nature, quantity and origin of the goods shown in such form, label or other declaration shall, for the purpose of ascertaining the duty payable on the goods or for any other purpose connected with this Act, take the place of the bill of entry, the declaration to be made by the importer and the other documents required in terms of section forty:Provided that an officer may at his discretion call upon the importer to make entry in terms of section forty of any goods contained in any postal parcel, package or letter packet or to furnish such documents as are required in terms of section forty to be submitted in support of a bill of entry or other form of clearance.
(2)The duty payable on any goods imported by post shall be paid in the manner prescribed.
(3)Any goods contained in any parcel, package or letter packet imported by post and found not to agree with the value, nature, quantity or origin entered in the form, label or declaration mentioned in subsection (1) shall be liable to forfeiture and the importer shall be as liable to the penalties prescribed for under-valuation or false declaration of the nature, quantity or origin of the goods as if the entry and declaration had been made in the manner prescribed in section forty.
(4)Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (1), any goods imported by post which are to be entered—
(a)for warehousing without payment of duty; or
(b)for removal or export in bond; or
(c)under rebate of duty; or
(d)under any item of the customs tariff which requires that a certificate be given or a condition be complied with;
shall be entered in the manner specified in section forty unless entry in terms of subsection (1) has been approved by the Commissioner.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(5)If any particular or amount shown on a form, label, declaration or document referred to in subsection (1) is not true and correct, whether by virtue of any credit or debit passed by the supplier of the goods concerned or of any other change whatsoever, the importer shall forthwith report the matter to the proper officer and shall obtain and produce to that officer an amended invoice or such other document as that officer may require.
(6)In this section—“duty” includes any import tax which is payable in terms of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12].[definition amended by Act 12 of 2002]

46. Entry of goods imported as freight in aircraft

(1)Subject to subsection (2), the provisions of section forty-five may be applied, mutatis mutandis, to any goods imported into Zimbabwe as freight in any aircraft.
(2)If the pilot or owner of any aircraft engaged in the importation of goods into Zimbabwe wishes the entry of such goods to be made under subsection (1), the Commissioner may at his discretion grant him a licence to do so, subject to the following conditions and such other safeguards as he may consider it necessary to impose—
(a)the licensee shall enter into a bond with sufficient surety, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, for the securing of the duty on goods imported or to be imported and for compliance with this Act in respect of such goods; and
(b)the goods shall not be delivered until the duty due thereon has been paid in the manner prescribed and all the requirements of this Act have been satisfied; and
(d)licences issued in terms of this section shall expire on the 31st December in each year; and[Please note: numbering as in original.]
(e)the goods shall be held in transit sheds duly appointed by the Commissioner until all the requirements of this Act have been satisfied; and
(f)if the licensee fails to comply with the conditions of his bond or neglects or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or any rule or instruction given by the Commissioner in this or any other matter connected with the administration of this Act, the Commissioner may cancel his licence immediately or refuse to renew it.
(3)In this section—“duty” includes any import tax which is payable in terms of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12].[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999 and by Act 12 of 2002]

47. Goods prohibited from importation

(1)Subject to subsection (3), the importation into Zimbabwe of the goods described in this subsection is totally prohibited—
(a)base, counterfeit or forged coins or currency;
(b)any goods which are indecent, obscene or objectionable;
(c)any goods which might tend to deprave the morals of the inhabitants, or any class of the inhabitants, of Zimbabwe;
(d)prison-made and penitentiary-made goods;
(e)spirituous beverages which contain preparations, extracts, essences or chemical products which are noxious or injurious;
(f)any goods the importation of which is prohibited by or under the authority of any enactment.
(2)Any goods imported in contravention of subsection (1) shall be liable to forfeiture.
(3)The Minister may authorize the importation of any goods described in subsection (1) for the purpose of study, scientific investigation or use as evidence in any proceedings.
(4)Any person who imports goods described in subsection (1), otherwise than in accordance with an authority given in terms of subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a)a fine not exceeding level twelve or thee times the duty-paid value of the goods concerned, whichever is the greater; or
(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years;
or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]

48. Restricted importations

(1)Except with the written permission of the Commissioner and under such conditions as he may consider it necessary to impose, the importation into Zimbabwe of stills and all apparatus or parts of apparatus capable of being used for the production or refining of alcohol is prohibited.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Goods the importation of which is restricted or controlled by this Act or any other enactment shall only be imported in conformity with the provisions of this Act or such other enactment, as the case may be.
(2a)Any person who imports goods in contravention of subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a)a fine not exceeding level twelve or three times the duty-paid value of the goods concerned, whichever is the greater; or
(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding give years;
or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]
(3)In subsection (2)—“goods” includes Zimbabwean and foreign currency.

49. Wreck

(1)For the purpose of this section—“wreck” includes—
(a)flotsam and jetsam; and
(b)any portion of a ship lost, abandoned or stranded or of the cargo, stores or equipment thereof; and
(c)any portion of an aircraft or vehicle which has been wrecked or abandoned or of the cargo, stores or equipment thereof.
(2)Every person who has in his possession any uncustomed wreck shall without delay give notice thereof to the nearest officer and shall, unless he is the owner of such wreck or the duly authorized agent of the owner, if required, forthwith deliver that wreck or permit it to be delivered to the said officer, and unless it is necessary for the preservation or safe keeping thereof, no person shall without the permission of an officer remove or alter in quantity or quality any such wreck.
(2a)Any person who contravenes subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]
(3)Uncustomed wreck found in or brought into Zimbabwe may, at any time after it has come under the control of the Commissioner, be disposed of by him in the manner set out in subsection (2) of section thirty-nine, but shall otherwise be subject to the same duty and enactments, as imported goods of the like kind.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

49A. Registration of imported vehicles

Imported vehicles shall be registered for the purposes of the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act [Chapter 13.14] at the time entry is made in terms of section forty—
(a)on submission of an application on the prescribed form, and
(b)on payment of the prescribed fee.
Provided that vehicles to be warehoused in terms of section seventy shall be registered at the time the vehicle is taken out of the warehouse in terms of section seventy-one.[section inserted by Act 18 of 2000]

49B. Application for registration of locally assembled and re-built vehicles

Application for registration of a locally assembled or re-built vehicle for purposes of the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act [Chapter 13.14] shall be made to the Commissioner, submitting the following and such other information as the Commissioner may require—
(a)an application on a prescribed form, and
(b)payment of prescribed fee, and
(c)evidence of customs clearance of imported components, and
(d)in the case of a re-built-vehicle—
(i)production of a certificate of roadworthiness
(ii)evidence, in the form of a police clearance certificate or otherwise, of the lawful acquisition of the vehicle and its component parts.
[section inserted by Act 18 of 2000]

49C. Allocation of registration mark and number and issue of registration book

The Commissioner shall, if he is satisfied that all the provisions of the Act have been met, register the vehicle and—
(a)allocate to it a registration mark and number; and
(b)issue in the name of owner a registration book in respect thereof in the prescribed form.
[section inserted by Act 18 of 2000]

Part IV – Coasting trade

50. Coasting trade

(1)All transport of goods by water from any place within to any other place within Zimbabwe shall be deemed to be coasting trade, and all ships while employed therein shall be deemed to be coasting ships.
(2)Except in such circumstances as the Commissioner may allow, cargo shall not be laden on or discharged from coasting ships at any place in Zimbabwe other than a port.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

51. Report to be delivered before departure of ship

Except in such circumstances as the Commissioner may permit, before any coasting ship departs from the port or place where it was loaded, the master shall sign a report in the prescribed form containing the prescribed particulars and shall deliver it to the proper officer, who shall sign and return it to the master, and such report shall be the clearance for the goods mentioned therein and for the ship for the voyage.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

52. Report to be delivered before goods are landed

Within twenty-four hours or within such further time as the Commissioner may under special circumstances permit after the arrival of any coasting ship at a port or place of discharge, and before any goods are discharged, the report required in terms of section fifty-one shall be delivered to the proper officer who shall note thereon the date of delivery. The report shall be returned to the master by the proper officer at each intermediate port named in the report, and retained by the proper officer at the last port so named.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

53. Payment of wharfage and other fees

The responsibility for payment of fees and charges due to the State in respect of lighterage, wharfage or handling of goods conveyed by coasting ship shall lie upon the consignor for all such fees and charges incurred at the port of lading and upon the consignee for all such fees and charges incurred at the port of discharge.

Part V – Exportation of goods

54. Exporter to deliver customs documents and produce goods

(1)Subject to subsection (5), every person or his authorised agent exporting any goods from Zimbabwe shall, before such exportation takes place, deliver to an officer a bill of entry or such other documents as may be prescribed, with such copies as may be required by the officer, and where direct trader input facilities exist, record the required information on the Customs computer system using procedures approved by the Commissioner, showing full details and particulars of the goods and their destination with such other information as the officer may require, and no goods shall be exported or accepted for carriage for export until such entry or other customs documents have been so delivered:Provided that—
(i)where—
(a)certain prescribed goods are to be exported temporarily; or
(b)goods are to be exported after having been imported under special temporary clearance arrangements;
the presentation of a bill of entry or other customs document may be dispensed with at the Commissioner’s discretion and entry for exportation shall be effected in such other manner as the Commissioner may direct;
(ii)the presentation of a bill of entry or other customs document in respect of the baggage of passengers, not being merchandise, shall not be necessary, unless specifically or generally required by the Commissioner or a proper officer.
[subsection substituted by Act 18 of 2000]
(2)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in subsection (1), the bill of entry or other customs documents may be delivered within such time after exportation of the goods as the officer may allow.
(3)Except in such circumstances as the Commissioner may permit, a separate bill of entry or other customs document, as the case may be, shall be delivered in respect of each separate consignment of goods exported by any one exporter.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(4)Where goods are exported by post, any form or label affixed to the parcel on which a description of the contents and their value are set forth, together with such other form as may be prescribed, shall be deemed to be the document or documents required under the provisions of subsection (1).
(5)Every exporter shall, if he is requested to do so by an officer, produce for his inspection all invoices and other documents relating to any goods entered for export in terms of this section and shall, at his own risk and expense, unload, reload, remove to or from any place indicated by the officer, open, unpack, repack and close up such of the packages as the officer may require for examination and all charges incurred in the examination shall be borne by the exporter.
(6)In default of compliance with subsection (1) or (5), the proper officer may cause the goods concerned to be conveyed to a State warehouse or to any other place indicated by him or may himself so remove them and, if entry is not made within three months together with the payment of any duty due and all charges of removal and warehouse rent, the Commissioner may, subject to this section, cause the goods to be sold by public auction, if they have not been entered before the date fixed for their sale.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(7)Subsections (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of section thirty-nine shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in respect of any goods referred to in subsection (6).
(8)Any person who exports or assists in exporting any goods in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection amended by Act 22 of 2001]

54A. Person in charge of vehicle to report goods in his charge before leaving Zimbabwe

Before any vehicle departs from Zimbabwe, whether carrying goods or not, the person in charge of the vehicle shall, upon arrival at the port from which the vehicle is to depart from Zimbabwe, make a full report to an officer in such manner as the officer may require or as maybe prescribed, concerning the vehicle and any goods in his possession or charge, and the destination of the goods.[section inserted by Act 13 of 1996]

55. Exportation of goods

(1)Except with the prior permission of an officer, no person shall load any goods, except the personal effects of passengers contained in their baggage, into a ship, aircraft, vehicle or pipeline for exportation from Zimbabwe.
(2)Any person leaving Zimbabwe shall, whether or not he has goods in his possession, report to an officer—
(a)in the case of a person departing by ship or vehicle, at the custom house or customs post at the place of his departure;
(b)in the case of a person leaving by aircraft, at the customs post or to an officer at the aerodrome of departure or such other aerodrome as the Commissioner may direct;
(c)in the case of a person leaving on foot, at the custom house or customs post nearest the point at which he intends to cross the border;
(d)in the case of a person leaving by train, on board such train or, with the consent of or at the direction of such officer or if there is no officer on board the train, at the custom house or customs post nearest the point of departure of the train from Zimbabwe;
and shall, if called upon to do so, unreservedly declare all goods in his possession which he proposes to take with him beyond the borders of Zimbabwe in such manner as the officer may require, and shall fully and truthfully answer any questions put to him by the officer and, if so required, produce such goods for inspection by an officer.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(3)Any person exporting goods by ship shall be responsible for all fees or charges due to the State in respect of lighterage, wharfage or handling at the port of shipment.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (2)—“goods” includes Zimbabwean and foreign currency.

56. Exportation of goods overland

No person in charge of a vehicle used in the exportation of goods overland shall remove such vehicle beyond the borders of Zimbabwe without the permission of an officer and under such conditions as the Commissioner may specify. The Commissioner may, in his discretion, grant a general permission to any such person.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

57. Outward clearance of ships

(1)The master of every ship bound from any place within to any place beyond the borders of Zimbabwe shall, before any goods are laden therein, make application to the proper officer in the form prescribed for permission to load goods on such ship.
(2)No goods or ballast shall be laden before all inward cargo to be discharged has been discharged, except such goods or ballast as may be permitted by the proper officer.
(3)Before the ship departs, whether in ballast or laden, the master shall—
(a)come before the proper officer and deliver to him in the prescribed form a report together with a full account of all goods liable to excise duty or surtax and goods on which duty has not been paid shipped as stores on board that ship; and
(b)make and subscribe to a declaration as to the truth of such report and account; and
(c)answer all such questions concerning the ship and cargo, if any, and the crew, passengers and voyage, as may be put to him by such officer.
(4)The master shall not cause or permit the ship to depart without first obtaining a certificate of clearance for the intended voyage from the proper officer, who shall not without reasonable cause withhold such certificate.
(5)If a ship in respect of which a clearance has been issued at any place in terms of this section does not depart from that place within thirty-six hours of the time when the clearance was issued, or within such further time as the proper officer may allow, such clearance shall lapse and the master shall obtain fresh clearance before permitting the ship to depart.
(6)A master of a ship who contravenes subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]

58. Outward clearance of aircraft

(1)The pilot of every aircraft bound from any place within to any place outside Zimbabwe shall furnish to an officer before any goods are taken on board particulars of the departure and journey of the aircraft and deliver, before the aircraft departs, in the form prescribed and with as many copies as that officer may require—
(a)a report, and
(b)a manifest of the goods on board; and
(c)a statement of stores on board; and such forms when signed by such officer shall be the clearance and authority for the aircraft to proceed to its destination outside Zimbabwe.
(2)Save as may be permitted by the Commissioner, every aircraft shall depart from Zimbabwe from a customs aerodrome.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(3)No aircraft shall depart from a customs aerodrome in Zimbabwe until the pilot has obtained the clearance and authority referred to in subsection (1) and the pilot shall not, after departure, call at any place in Zimbabwe other than a customs aerodrome unless forced to do so by accident, stress of weather or other circumstances beyond his control.
(4)If the aircraft in respect of which a clearance has been issued at any place in terms of this section does not depart from that place within thirty-six hours of the time when the clearance was issued, or within such further time as the officer may allow, such clearance shall lapse and the pilot shall, before permitting the aircraft to depart, obtain fresh authority for the aircraft to proceed outside Zimbabwe.
(5)A pilot of an aircraft who contravenes subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]

59. Master, pilot or operator may appoint agent

The master of any ship, the person in charge of any vehicle other than a railway train, the pilot of any aircraft or the operator of any pipeline may, instead of himself performing any act, including the answering of questions, required by or under this Part to be performed by him, appoint an agent on his behalf and at his risk to perform any such act, and any such act performed by such agent shall in all respects and for all purposes be deemed to be the act of the master, person in charge, pilot or operator, as the case may be, so however, that the personal attendance of the master, person in charge, pilot or operator may be demanded at any time by the proper officer at any port.

60. Time of exportation of goods

(1)With the exception of goods exported by post or by of pipeline, the time of exportation shall be deemed to be the time when the bill of entry or other document required in terms of section fifty-four is delivered to an officer or the time when the goods cross the borders of Zimbabwe, whichever is the earlier.
(2)Where goods are exported by post, the time of exportation shall be the time when any export document which may be prescribed in terms of subsection (4) of section fifty-four is delivered to an officer or the time when the goods are placed in the post, whichever is the earlier.
(3)Where goods are exported by pipeline, the time of exportation shall be the time when the bill of entry or other document required in terms of section fifty-four is delivered to an officer or the time when the goods are first placed in the pipeline, whichever is the earlier.

61. Restriction of exportation

(1)If the exportation of any goods is restricted or controlled by any enactment, such goods shall only be exported in conformity with the provisions of such enactment.
(2)Any person who exports or assists in exporting any goods the exportation of which is prohibited by any enactment, and any person who exports or assists in exporting any goods in contravention of any enactment which restricts or controls the exportation of such goods shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)For the purposes of this Act, the entry of goods for export, the loading or placing of any goods upon a ship, aircraft or vehicle which is about to leave Zimbabwe or has other goods upon it which are to be exported, the taking of goods aboard such a ship, aircraft or vehicle by a person, the handing of any goods to any carrier or transport company or to the master of a ship or the pilot or owner of any aircraft for the purpose of exportation, the placing of any goods in a pipeline which has been prepared for the exportation of goods or the placing in the post of any package addressed to a place outside Zimbabwe shall be deemed to be an attempt to export.
(4)In this section—“goods” includes Zimbabwean and foreign currency.

Part VI – Export processing zones

62. Interpretation in Part VI

In this Part—“customs territory” means any part of Zimbabwe that is not within an export processing zone;“export processing zone” means any part of Zimbabwe declared to be an export processing zone in terms of the Export Processing Zones Act [Chapter 14:09];“Export Processing Zone Authority” means the Zimbabwe Export Processing Zone Authority established in terms of the Export Processing Zones Act [Chapter 14:09].

63. Goods imported into export processing zones exempt from duty

Goods imported into an export processing zone shall not be subject to duty:Provided that such goods are not consumed within the customs territory.

64. Facilities, etc., to be provided by Export Processing Zones Authority

The Export Processing Zone Authority shall—
(a)construct or cause to be constructed suitable high enclosures with one suitable gate and install or cause to be installed adequate lighting around the export processing zone; and
(b)provide or cause to be provided, free of charge, and maintain to the satisfaction of the Commissioner—
(i)suitable office accommodation and other facilities for use by officers stationed at any export processing zone; and
(ii)suitable space, facilities and devices for the examination of goods being imported into or exported from any export processing zone.
[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

65. Goods deemed to be exported and imported

For the purposes of this Act—
(a)goods which are taken from the customs territory and brought into an export processing zone shall be deemed to be exported from Zimbabwe; and
(b)goods which are brought out of an export processing zone and taken into the customs territory shall be deemed to be imported into Zimbabwe; and
(c)goods which are brought from outside Zimbabwe directly into an export processing zone shall be deemed not to have entered Zimbabwe; and
(d)goods which are manufactured or produced in an export processing zone shall be deemed to have been manufactured or produced outside Zimbabwe.

66. Goods manufactured in export processing zones

(1)Goods manufactured in an export processing zone shall not be taken out of an export processing zone except—
(a)for export; or
(b)for repair, maintenance, processing or conversion in the customs territory under such conditions as the Commissioner may specify.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Any person who takes goods out of an export processing zone in contravention of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a)a fine not exceeding level twelve or three times the duty-paid value of the goods concerned, whichever is the greater; or
(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years;
or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]

67. Removal of goods from export processing zones

Goods in an export processing zone may—
(a)be removed for export or sent into another export processing zone or bonded warehouse; or
(b)be destroyed;
subject to any conditions the Commissioner may specify.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

Part VII – Warehousing of goods

68. Bonded warehouses

(1)Subject to any regulations governing the erection, maintenance and control of such warehouses, the Commissioner may, by notice in the Gazette, appoint and license such buildings or structures approved by him to be—
(a)bonded warehouses that are either—
(i)private bonded warehouses, that is to say any warehouse for the warehousing and securing of goods imported by a private proprietor and entered for warehousing in the private bonded warehouse; or
(ii)public bonded warehouses, that is to say any warehouse for the warehousing and securing of goods imported by one or more importers and entered for warehousing in the public bonded warehouse;
[paragraph substituted by Act 1 of 2018]
(b)duty-free shops for the warehousing and sale of goods;
without payment of duty under this Act or any other law relating to customs and excise, at any place appointed in terms of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section fourteen, and may in like manner revoke such appointment of warehouses or duty free shops.
(2)The Commissioner may determine the kind of goods that may be placed in bonded warehouses or duty-free shops.
(3)Each of the following may be appointed and licensed as a separate warehouse for the purposes of this section, whether or not it is situated within a wire or other enclosure—
(a)a bulk storage tank, for the storage of any commodity, which is unconnected by pipes to another similar storage tank;
(b)two or more bulk storage tanks, for the storage of any commodity, which are permanently connected by pipes for the purpose of transferring the contents from one to another such tank;
(c)a store, house or shed which is so constructed as to provide, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, for the securing of the goods to be stored therein and of the duties payable on such goods.
(4)A fenced or walled enclosure shall only be appointed and licensed as a separate warehouse for the purposes of this section if it is of such a nature as to provide, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, for the securing of the goods to be warehoused and of the duties payable on such goods without regard to any store, house or shed which may be situated within such enclosure.
(5)All licences issued in terms of this section shall be issued by the Commissioner and shall, whenever issued, expire on the 31st December in each year.
(6)If the licensee fails to comply with the conditions of his bond or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or any rule or instruction made or given by the Commissioner in this or any other matter connected with the administration of this Act, the Commissioner may cancel his licence or refuse to renew it.
(7)A licence may be transferred from one warehouse to another duly appointed warehouse in the possession of the person to whom the licence has been issued, but shall not be transferable from one person to another.
(8)[subsection repealed by Act 1 of 2018]

69. General bond of proprietor or occupier of bonded warehouse

(1)The proprietor or occupier of any warehouse shall give general security by bond, with sufficient surety to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, for compliance with this Act and for the payment of the full duties on all such goods as may at any time be warehoused therein, or for the removal of such goods, in accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed, to another warehouse or port or to a place outside Zimbabwe.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)The bond shall include—
(a)a condition for the safe deposit in the warehouse of such goods as may be entered for warehousing;
(b)a condition that no goods shall be taken out of the warehouse for consumption, exportation or removal in bond, except upon an order in writing from an officer after entry has been made.Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to goods sold from a duty-free shop.
(3)The Commissioner may at any time require that the form or amount of such security shall be altered in such manner as he may determine.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

70. Storing of goods in warehouse without payment of duty

(1)The importer of any dutiable goods may warehouse them in any warehouse duly licensed in terms of section sixty-eight without the payment of duty on the first importation thereof, except any anti-dumping duty, provisional anti-dumping charge or countervailing duty and such duty as may become due as a result of the loss or diminution of the goods during their transportation to the warehouse in which they are to be deposited. All goods so warehoused shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be prescribed.
(2)The importer or owner of any dutiable goods may, before duty is paid on them, warehouse the goods without payment of duty, except any anti-dumping duty, provisional anti-dumping charge or countervailing duty, in a place other than a warehouse licensed in terms of section sixty-eight if such place is approved by the Commissioner for that purpose and if the importer or owner furnishes such security and complies with such conditions as the Commissioner may fix.
(3)The purchaser or manufacturer of any goods liable to excise duty or surtax may, before such excise duty or surtax has been paid, warehouse the goods without payment of duty or surtax in any warehouse duly licensed in terms of section sixty-eight or in a place approved by the Commissioner in terms of subsection (2), and all goods so warehoused shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be imposed in terms of subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(4)Before warehousing any goods in terms of subsection (1) or (3), an importer, purchaser or manufacturer shall satisfy the proper officer that the proprietor or occupier of the bonded warehouse is willing and able to store the goods and that the safe deposit of the goods in the bonded warehouse is covered by the bond given by the proprietor or occupier in terms of section sixty-nine.[subsection inserted by Act 29 of 1998]
(5)In this section, “duty” includes any import tax which is payable in terms of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23.12].[subsection inserted by Act 5 of 2009]

71. Removal of goods from warehouse

(1)No goods which have been warehoused shall be taken or delivered from a warehouse except in accordance with the regulations and upon entry and payment of any duty due thereon and payable in terms of this section.
(1a)Any person who takes or delivers goods from a warehouse in contravention of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—
(a)a fine not exceeding level twelve or three times the duty-paid value of the goods concerned, whichever is the greater; or
(b)imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years; or
to both such fine and such imprisonment.[subsection inserted by Act 22 of 2001]
(2)Subject to this Act in respect of rebates and manufacture, assembly or conversion in bond, duty shall be paid on goods delivered from a warehouse for consumption and such duty shall be paid in accordance with the quantities and the values of those goods as accepted at the time of their entry for warehousing in Zimbabwe:Provided that if any deficiency has already been accounted for in terms of subsection (4), duty shall only be paid on the actual quantity of goods delivered for consumption.
(3)Notwithstanding subsection (1)—
(a)entry shall not be made of or duty paid on wet goods which are—
(i)removed in the prescribed manner and in accordance with prescribed conditions from a warehouse to a place on or a part of licensed premises approved by the Commissioner for regauging, racking, blending, mixing, reducing, fining, bottling or other manipulation; and
(ii)returned to the warehouse from which they were removed; and
(b)duty shall not be paid on goods which are—
(i)released from a warehouse in terms of section seventy-two; or
(ii)taken from a warehouse for re-warehousing or for removal or export in bond.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(4)If at any time while they are in a warehouse or when they are delivered from a warehouse for any purpose the quantity of any goods is found to be less than that which was declared and accepted at the time of their entry for warehousing, duty shall be paid on the deficiency:Provided that—
(i)in the case of—
(a)wet goods; and
(b)oil in bulk storage tanks; and
(c)petrol and any other spirit derived from petroleum shale or coal tar, in bulk storage tanks; and
(d)such other goods as are specified by regulation;
an officer may, when assessing duty in respect of a deficiency, make such allowances as are specified by or in accordance with the provisions of regulations, if he is satisfied that no part of such deficiency was wilfully or negligently caused;
(ii)nothing contained in this subsection shall be deemed to release the owner of any goods or the proprietor or occupier of any warehouse from liability to prosecution under this Act for the removal of goods from a warehouse without entry thereof;
(iii)any deficiency in the goods in a warehouse, except a deficiency not in excess of that specified by or in accordance with the provisions of regulations, shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be deemed to have come about by the removal of goods from the warehouse without entry.
(5)Any part of licensed premises where goods are manipulated or manufactured shall, if the Commissioner so directs, be treated as a warehouse for the purposes of subsection (4).[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

72. Bonded goods as stores for aircraft or ships

(1)An officer may release goods free of duty from any bonded warehouse in Zimbabwe, in original packages as imported or as repacked in bond under this Act, for shipment in accordance with the regulations, as stores for the use of any ship or aircraft which is not then on any voyage or journey from one place in Zimbabwe to any other place in Zimbabwe.
(2)If any goods warehoused have been declared to be for export as ship’s or aircraft stores or otherwise, an officer may refuse to allow their removal from the warehouse for any purpose other than that which has been declared.

73. Bonded goods sold from a duty-free shop

(1)The proprietor or occupier of a duty-free shop may sell goods free of duty to such class or classes of persons and under such conditions as may be prescribed.
(2)An officer shall not allow the removal of any goods from a duty-free shop except for sale in terms of subsection (1) or in such other circumstances as may be prescribed.

74. Clearance in terms of bond

Subject to section seventy-seven and to the allowances made under subsection (4) of section seventy-one, all goods warehoused or re-warehoused shall be duly cleared for consumption, export or removal in bond according to the conditions of the bond under which such goods were warehoused or re-warehoused.

75. Liability of goods to duty at date of entry for consumption

All goods whatsoever which have been deposited in terms of this Act in any warehouse or place of security under lawful authority without payment of duty upon the first importation thereof shall, upon being entered for consumption, be subject to such rate of duty as may be in force at the time of their being entered for consumption.

76. When warehoused goods must be cleared

(1)Imported goods which have been warehoused in terms of section seventy for two years shall immediately be entered for export in bond and duly exported or entered for consumption and delivered from the warehouse:Provided that this subsection shall not apply to—
(a)oil in bulk storage tanks; or
(b)petrol or any other spirit derived from petroleum, shale or coal tar, in bulk storage tanks.
[subsection substituted by Act 29 of 1998]
(2)If any such goods are not so entered, the Commissioner may cause them to be sold, and shall apply the proceeds first to the payment of duty, next to warehouse rent and charges incurred by the State and shall pay the balance, if any, to the owner of the goods. If the goods cannot be sold for a sum sufficient to pay the duty, rent and charges as aforesaid, they may, by direction of the Commissioner, be destroyed or appropriated to the State without compensation.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

77. Sorting, repacking or destroying goods under customs authority

(1)Subject to such safeguards as he may prescribe, the Commissioner may permit—
(a)the owner of or person having control over warehoused goods to sort, separate, pack or repack any such goods and to make such alterations therein or arrangements as may be necessary for the preservation of those goods, or for the sale, exportation or other legal disposal thereof and, in the case of wines and spirits, to bottle from bulk stocks or to break down from greater to lesser strengths;
(b)any parts of goods separated in terms of paragraph (a) to be destroyed, but without prejudice to the claim for duty upon the remaining goods;
(c)the assembly, blending, mixing, conversion or manufacture in bond of any goods wholly or partly consisting of material liable to duty:Provided that—
(i)this paragraph shall not apply if the finished products of any such process would be liable to excise duty or surtax;
(ii)when the finished product is entered for consumption, duty shall be paid upon any material liable to duty contained therein or consumed in its manufacture and, when such duty is payable on value, the value of such material, as accepted at the time of their warehousing in Zimbabwe, shall be their value for duty purposes.
(2)Anything done or performed under any permission granted in terms of subsection (1) shall be done or performed in accordance with rules made by the Commissioner for the due protection of revenue and for the payment of any expenses incurred in respect of the attendance of officers.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

78. Transfer of ownership of goods warehoused

The owner of any goods warehoused may transfer such ownership to any other person who may lawfully own the said goods, but the Commissioner may refuse to recognize any such transfer of ownership unless notice thereof in writing has been given to him by the owner prior to the transfer.[section amended by Act 17 of 1999]

79. Warehouses may be locked by officer

An officer may cause any bonded warehouse to be locked with a customs lock for so long as he deems fit, and no person shall during such period remove or break such lock or enter such warehouse or duty-free shop or remove any goods therefrom without the permission of the officer.

80. Taking stock and duty on deficiencies

An officer may at any time take stock of the goods in any bonded warehouse or duty-free shop and duty shall be paid upon deficiencies in terms of subsection (4) of section seventy-one.

81. Sampling of warehoused goods

(1)An officer may permit—
(a)the taking, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, of samples of warehoused goods by the owner or importer of the goods; and
(b)the payment of duty on samples taken in terms of paragraph (a) to be deferred until the consignment of the goods from which the samples were taken is entered for consumption or for removal or export in bond.
(2)The Commissioner may remit the duty on samples taken in terms of subsection (1).[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

82. Remittal of duty on certain warehoused goods which are destroyed, etc.

(1)If the Commissioner is satisfied that—
(a)goods were destroyed by accident or lost by accident without going into consumption whilst in a bonded warehouse, or duty-free shop or place deemed to be a bonded warehouse in terms of subsection (5) of section seventy-one or whilst in transit to a bonded warehouse or whilst in transit for export in bond or when removed from a bonded warehouse in terms of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section seventy-one; and
(b)every reasonable effort was made and precaution taken to prevent their loss or destruction;
the Commissioner shall remit the duty payable on the goods.
(2)The Commissioner shall remit the duty due upon warehoused goods which, with his consent—
(a)are destroyed by the owner or other person having control of the goods under the supervision of a proper officer; or
(b)are given up to the control of a proper officer in whole packages to avoid the payment of the duty.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

83. Removal of goods in bond to any other port of entry or any other territory

(1)If an importer, instead of paying duties on any goods or depositing such goods in a bonded warehouse, wishes to remove such goods in bond to any other port of entry within Zimbabwe or to export such goods in bond to some place beyond the borders of Zimbabwe, he shall—
(a)give a bond, with sufficient surety to the satisfaction of the proper officer, conditioned for the payment of the duties on such goods unless evidence of removal or export acceptable to the Commissioner is produced within a reasonable time to be stated in the bond; or
(b)make a deposit in cash of not less than the amount of duty leviable upon the goods in question pending production by him within a reasonable period of evidence of removal or export acceptable to the Commissioner.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)The method and means whereby goods are removed in bond in terms of subsection (1) shall be subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed.

84. Responsibility for goods placed in bonded warehouse

The State shall in no case be liable for any loss or damage of whatsoever nature to any goods lodged in any warehouse appointed or licensed in terms of this Part or through wrong delivery of such goods.

Part VIII – Ordinary duties, anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties

85. Interpretation in Part VIII

(1)In this Part—“export price”, in relation to imported goods, means the price of such goods to the importer, including all costs, charges and expenses incidental to the purchase thereof or to the placing thereof on board the means of transport by which they will be removed from the country of exportation but excluding any subsequent costs, charges or expenses incurred in connection with the delivery of such goods to Zimbabwe;“factory cost”, in relation to manufactured goods, means the cost of such goods in their finished condition calculated in the manner prescribed;“investigating authority” means the Competition and Tariff Commission established in terms of section 4 of the Competition Act, 1996.[definition amended by Act 29 of 2001]“local content”, in relation to goods manufactured in any particular country, means such percentage of the factory costs of such goods in their finished condition as is represented by the cost of—(a)the direct labour involved in the manufacture of the goods; and(b)any materials which were grown, produced or manufactured in the country concerned and which were used in the manufacture of the goods.
(2)Any reference in this Part to goods which have been produced shall be construed as a reference to goods which have not been subjected to any process of manufacture.

86. Customs duties

Subject to section ninety-eight, there shall be charged, levied, collected and paid in respect of goods which are imported customs duties at the appropriate rates provided in the customs tariff.

87. Classification of goods for customs purposes

(1)For the purpose of determining the customs duty payable in respect of any goods that are imported, the Commissioner or an officer shall classify such goods into the appropriate tariff headings, subheadings or codes in accordance with any rules set out in the customs tariff, paying due regard to—
(a)the explanatory notes to the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System, issued from time to time by the World Customs Organisation in Brussels; and
(b)decisions of the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System Committee.
[subsection amended by Act 29 of 1998 and by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)The Commissioner shall vary or set aside a classification of goods made in terms of subsection (1) if he is satisfied, whether on appeal by the importer of the goods or otherwise, that the classification was incorrect.
(3)Any classification of goods made in terms of this section shall be binding on the importer of the goods, subject to an appeal—
(a)to the Commissioner, where the classification was made by an officer; or
(b)to the Fiscal Appeal Court in terms of the Fiscal Appeal Court Act [Chapter 23:05], where the classification was made, varied or confirmed by the Commissioner.
(4)The Commissioner shall ensure that at least one copy of—
(a)the publications referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1); and
(b)any decision referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) on which he has relied for the purpose of classifying any goods;
is kept available for public inspection during normal business hours in his offices and at such other offices of the Department as he considers appropriate.
(5)If the classification of goods for the purposes of this Act is an issue in any proceedings before any court, a document purporting to be a copy of a publication or decision referred to in subsection (1), and purporting to be certified as correct by the Commissioner, shall be admissible in the proceedings as prima facie proof of its contents upon its production by any person.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

88. Determination of origin of manufactured goods

For the purposes of this Act, the country of origin of any manufactured goods shall be the country in which the last process of manufacture has been performed.

89. Specified country content of goods subject to lower rates of duty than in customs tariff

(1)Subject to subsection (3), where goods which are grown, produced or manufactured in any country are, because of their origin, subject under the provisions of this Act to rates of duty which are lower than those set out in Part II of the customs tariff, such lower rates shall be allowed only—
(a)in the case of unmanufactured goods, where such goods have been wholly grown or produced in that country;
(b)in the case of manufactured goods, where such goods have been subjected to their last process of manufacture in that country and—
(i)have such local content in relation to that country as may be prescribed; or
(ii)have been subjected in that country to such process of manufacture as may be prescribed in relation to the class of goods to which such goods belong.
(2)Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) may provide for the manner in which or the authority by whom the determination of the local content of manufactured goods shall be made and the information to be supplied by importers in relation thereto.
(3)If any preference, rebate or remission of duty is granted in terms of any agreement in respect of goods grown, produced or manufactured in any country, the conditions as to the local content required in relation to the goods before such preference, rebate or remission is granted may be determined by special provision in such agreement and if no such special provision has been made, subsection (1) shall apply.

90. Anti-dumping duties

(1)For the purposes of this section, imported goods or goods likely to be imported shall be deemed to be dumped if the export price of such goods is less than—
(a)the domestic price of such goods, which means the price at which identical or comparable goods are being sold in the ordinary course of trade in the country of exportation or, where such price is fixed by the government in the country of exportation, such price as the investigating authority may determine; or
(b)if there is no domestic price in terms of paragraph (a), any of the following—
(i)the highest comparable price for identical or comparable goods when exported from the country of exportation and sold in any other foreign country in the ordinary course of trade; or
(ii)the cost of production or manufacture of the goods plus such amount in respect of administration, selling and other costs and profit as the investigating authority may consider reasonable; or
(iii)where the cost referred to in subparagraph (ii) cannot be ascertained by the investigating authority or is considered by the investigating authority to be subject to any form of government control, such domestic price as the investigating authority may determine; or
(c)the cost of production or manufacture of the goods plus such amount in respect of administration, selling and other costs and profit as the investigating authority may consider reasonable:Provided that imported goods shall not be deemed to be dumped by reason only of the exemption of such goods from duties or taxes borne by identical or comparable goods destined for consumption or use in the country of exportation or by reason of the refund of such duties or taxes.
(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)—
(a)the comparison of prices contemplated in that subsection shall be made at the same level of trade and in respect of sales made at as nearly as possible the same time;
(b)where there is no export price or it appears to the investigating authority that the export price is unreliable because of an association or compensatory arrangements between the supplier and the importer or a third party, the investigating authority may determine the export price on the basis of the price at which the imported goods are first re-sold to an independent buyer or, if they are not re-sold to an independent buyer or are not re-sold in the condition in which they were imported, on such basis as the investigating authority thinks fit.
(3)The margin of dumping deemed, for the purposes of this section, to have taken place or to be likely to take place shall be the difference in prices contemplated in subsection (1).
(4)If, after considering the report of an investigating authority, the Minister is satisfied that—
(a)any goods have been or are being or are likely to be imported in circumstances in which they are deemed in terms of subsection (1) to be dumped; and
(b)the effect of such importation has been or will be to cause or threaten detriment to an established industry in Zimbabwe or to affect detrimentally the establishment or expansion of an industry in Zimbabwe; and
(c)it would be in the public interest to impose an anti-dumping duty in respect of such goods;
he shall, by notice in the Gazette, impose such antidumping duty in respect of goods of that class as will, in his opinion, offset the dumping.
(5)An anti-dumping duty—
(a)shall not exceed the margin of dumping referred to in subsection (3); and
(b)may, where a provisional anti-dumping charge has been levied in respect of the goods concerned, be imposed with effect from a date which is prior to the date of publication of the notice in the Gazette but is not prior to the date with effect from which such provisional anti-dumping charge was levied.

91. Provisional anti-dumping charge

(1)If at any time the Minister is of the opinion that prima facie the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4) of section ninety apply in relation to any goods which have been or are being or are likely to be imported, he may, by notice in the Gazette, impose a provisional anti-dumping charge on goods of that class for a period not exceeding three months from the date of publication of such notice, which charge shall not exceed the amount that it is estimated would constitute the margin of dumping referred to in subsection (3) of section ninety.
(2)The period for which the provisional antidumping charge has been imposed may, before the expiration thereof, be extended by the Minister, by notice in the Gazette, for a further period not exceeding three months if he is so requested by the exporter and the importer concerned.
(3)A provisional anti-dumping charge shall be paid on goods subject to that charge at the time of their entry for consumption or for warehousing as security for any anti-dumping duty that may be imposed on such goods and shall be brought to account in such manner as the Commissioner may direct.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(4)Where—
(a)an anti-dumping duty is imposed with retrospective effect in respect of goods in relation to which a provisional anti-dumping charge has been levied, the amount of the charge which has been paid shall be set off against the anti-dumping duty which is payable and if such amount—
(i)is greater than the anti-dumping duty payable, the balance shall be refunded to the importer on application;
(ii)is less than the anti-dumping duty payable, the balance shall become due and payable by the importer on demand being made by the proper officer;
(b)no anti-dumping duty is imposed in respect of goods in relation to which a provisional anti-dumping charge has been levied or such a duty is imposed but not with retrospective effect, the amount collected in respect of such charge shall be refunded to the importer on application.

92. Countervailing duties

(1)For the purposes of this section, a bounty or subsidy shall be deemed to be granted if it is granted—
(a)directly or indirectly, on the growth, production, manufacture or exportation of goods, whether by way of grant, loan, tax relief or otherwise and whether related directly to the goods themselves, to materials included in the goods or to anything else; or
(b)by way of a special subsidy on the transport of any particular goods.
(2)If, after considering the report of an investigating authority, the Minister is satisfied that—
(a)a bounty or subsidy in respect of goods which have been or are being or are likely to be imported has been or will be granted within the meaning of subsection (1) in the country in which such goods were grown, produced or manufactured or from which they were or are to be exported; and
(b)the effect of the granting of such bounty or subsidy has been or will be to cause or threaten detriment in an established industry in Zimbabwe or to affect detrimentally the establishment or expansion of an industry in Zimbabwe; and
(c)it would be in the public interest to impose a countervailing duty in respect of such goods;
he shall, by notice in the Gazette, impose such countervailing duty in respect of goods of that class as will, in his opinion, offset the granting of such bounty or subsidy.
(3)A countervailing duty shall not exceed the amount as determined by the investigating authority of the bounty or subsidy referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (2).
(4)A countervailing duty shall not be imposed on any imported goods by reason only of—
(a)the exemption of such goods from duties or taxes borne by identical or comparable goods destined for consumption or use in the country of exportation; or
(b)the refund of any duties or taxes referred to in paragraph (a).

93. General provisions regarding anti-dumping and countervailing duties

(1)Unless the Minister has, by notice in the Gazette, specified to the contrary, an anti-dumping duty, provisional anti-dumping charge or countervailing duty shall not apply to raw, semi-manufactured or manufactured materials or requisites of any industry which are entered for use in the manufacture, assembly or refining of any article within Zimbabwe under a rebate or remission of the ordinary duty prescribed in regulations referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section one hundred and twenty providing for such matters.
(2)Subject to this Act, the goods specified in a notice made in terms of section ninety or ninety-two shall, from the date of publication of such notice in the Gazette or such earlier date as may be specified in a notice made in terms of section ninety, be liable to the appropriate anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty provided for in the notice, and such anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty shall be paid by the importer, in addition to any other duty payable thereon, on the entry for consumption or for warehousing of such goods.
(3)An anti-dumping duty and a countervailing duty shall not be imposed on the same imported goods in order to compensate for the same situation of dumping or the granting of a bounty or subsidy.
(4)Whenever any anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty is imposed on any goods, the importer or owner of any such goods which have been warehoused in terms of Part VI shall produce the invoice and such other documents relating to the goods as the proper officer may require and shall forthwith pay the antidumping duty or countervailing duty that is due on such goods.
(5)Notwithstanding the provisions of sections ninety and ninety-two, the Commissioner may, subject to such conditions as he thinks fit, remit the anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty due on any goods which are imported in such circumstances or in such quantities that the importation of such goods does not, in his opinion, constitute a regular importation of such goods for the purposes of trade.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(6)For the purposes of sections ninety, ninety-one and ninety-two, where any cost or price is expressed in the currency of a foreign country, conversion to the currency of Zimbabwe shall be made in accordance with section one hundred and eight.
(7)The Minister may at any time, by notice in the Gazette, repeal a notice in terms of subsection (4) of section ninety, subsection (1) of section ninety-one or subsection (2) of section ninety-two.

94. Confirmation of anti-dumping duty, provisional anti-dumping charge or countervailing duty

(1)The Minister shall lay a copy of a notice in terms of subsection (4) of section ninety, subsection (1) of section ninety-one or subsection (2) of section ninety-two and a statement of the reasons for the publication of the notice before Parliament—
(a)in the case of a notice published when Parliament is sitting or is adjourned for seven days or less or when Parliament is prorogued for seven days or less, within fourteen days of the publication of the notice or, if before the copy of the notice and statement are so laid Parliament is dissolved or is prorogued for more than seven days or Parliament is adjourned for more than seven days, within fourteen days after the next sitting of Parliament;
(b)in the case of a notice published when Parliament is dissolved or is prorogued for more than seven days or Parliament is adjourned for more than seven days, within fourteen days of the next sitting of Parliament or, if before the copy of the notice and the statement are so laid Parliament is dissolved or is prorogued for more than seven days Parliament is adjourned for more than seven days, within fourteen days after the next sitting of Parliament.
(2)If Parliament does not by resolution approve a notice, a copy of which is laid before it in terms of subsection (1), before Parliament is next dissolved or is next prorogued for more than seven days, the notice shall cease to be of force on the day Parliament is so dissolved or prorogued or the day Parliament is so adjourned.

95. Excise duties

There shall be charged, levied, collected and paid in respect of goods which are manufactured or produced within Zimbabwe, excise duties at the appropriate rates provided in the excise tariff.

96. Classification of goods for excise purposes

(1)For the purposes of determining the excise duty payable in respect of any goods that are manufactured or produced within Zimbabwe, the Commissioner or an officer shall classify such goods into the appropriate tariff headings or subheadings set out in the statutory instrument published in terms of subsection (1) of section two hundred and twenty-five and imposing an excise tariff.[subsection amended by Act 29 of 1998]
(2)The Commissioner shall vary or set aside a classification of goods made in terms of subsection (1) if he is satisfied, whether on appeal by the person liable for the payment of the excise duty or otherwise, that the classification was incorrect.
(3)Any classification of goods made in terms of this section shall be binding on the person liable for the payment of the excise duty, subject to an appeal—
(a)to the Commissioner, where the classification was made by an officer; or
(b)to the Fiscal Appeal Court in terms of the Fiscal Appeal Court Act [Chapter 23:05], where the classification was made, varied or confirmed by the Commissioner.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

97. Surtax

There shall be charged, levied, collected and paid in respect of goods which are imported into or manufactured or produced within Zimbabwe, surtax at the appropriate rate provided in the surtax tariff.

98. Duties shall be subject to certain provisions

The duties imposed under this Act shall be subject to all the provisions of this Act relating to agreements, suspensions, rebates, refunds, drawbacks or remissions of duty, or to the warehousing of goods.

Part XA – Application of information technology to customs processes

[Part XA inserted by Act 12 of 2006]

98A. Interpretation in Part XA

In this Part—“access”, means gaining entry into, instructing or communicating with the logical, arithmetical or memory function resources of a computer, computer system or computer network;“affixing a digital signature”, in relation to an electronic record or communication, means authenticating the electronic record or communication by means of a digital signature;“computer” means any electronic, magnetic, optical or other high speed data processing device or system which performs logical, arithmetic and memory functions by manipulation of electronic, magnetic or optical impulses and includes all input, output, processing, storage, computer software or communication facilities which are connected or related to the computer in a computer system or a computer network;“computer network” means the interconnection of one or more computers through—(a)the use of satellite, microwave, terrestrial line or other communication media; and(b)terminals or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers whether or not the interconnection is continuously maintained;“computer system”, means a device or collection of devices, including input and output devices capable of being used with external files, which contain computer programmes, electronic instructions and input and output data, and that performs logic, arithmetical, data storage and retrieval, communication control and other functions;“digital signature” means an electronic signature created by computer that is intended by the registered user using it and by the Commissioner accepting it to have the same effect as a manual signature, and which complies with the requirements for acceptance as a digital signature specified in subsection (1) of section ninety-eight F.“electronic data” means any information, knowledge, fact, concept or instruction stored internally in the memory of the computer or represented in any form (including computer printouts, magnetic optical storage media, punched cards or punched tapes) that is being or has been prepared in a formalised manner and is intended to be or is being or has been processed in a computer system or network;“electronic record or communication” means electronic data that is recorded, received or sent in an electronic form or in microfilm or computer-generated microfiche;“intermediary”, with respect to any particular electronic communication, means any person who on behalf of another person receives, stores or transmits that communication or provides any service with respect to that communication;“Internet” has the meaning given to that word by the Postal and Telecommunications Act [Chapter 12:05];“originator”, means a person who sends, generates, stores or transmits any electronic communication to be sent, generated, stored or transmitted to any other person, but does not include an intermediary;“registered user” means a person registered in terms of section ninety-eight E;“user agreement”, means the agreement between the registered user and the Commissioner referred to in section ninety-eight D.

98B. Use of electronic data generally as evidence

(1)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law, the admissibility in evidence of any electronic data for any purpose under this Act shall not be denied—
(a)on the sole ground that it is electronic data; or
(b)if it is the best evidence that the person adducing it can reasonably be expected to obtain, on the grounds that it is not in original form
(2)Information in the form of electronic data shall be given due evidential weight.
(3)In assessing the evidential weight of electronic data a court shall have regard to such of the following considerations as may be applicable in the circumstances of the case—
(a)the reliability of the manner in which the data was generated, stored and communicated; and
(b)the reliability of the manner in which the integrity of the data was maintained; and
(c)the manner in which its originator was identified.

98C. Establishment of computer systems for customs processing purposes

(1)The Commissioner may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, establish and maintain a computer system for the purpose of applying information technology to any process or procedure under this Act, including—
(a)the electronic processing of any document; and
(b)the receipt and processing of reports and other documents relating to the arrival and departure of vehicles, vessels and aircraft and their passengers and cargo and the control of such passengers and cargo, and
(c)the accounting for the receipt, clearance and release of goods, the storage of goods in customs warehouses or other places and the removal or carriage of goods for any purpose under this Act, and
(d)the accounting for the production o manufacture of any goods in compliance with any procedure prescribed by or under this Act.
(e)the operation of an system (whether restricted to registered users or not) whereunder any importer, exporter, manufacturer, freight forwarding agent, broker, carrier, airport operator, proprietor or occupier of a bonded warehouse or any other person involved in the trans-border movement of goods for profit in any capacity whatsoever may, subject to having a proven record of compliance with the Act and to meeting such other criteria as may be prescribed, be certified by the Commissioner as an “approved economic operator” for the purpose of benefitting from the expeditious clearance of the goods in question in advance of their importation into or exportation from Zimbabwe by any mode of transport.[paragraph inserted by Act 9 of 2011]
(2)Regulations made under section 235 may provide for the establishment and maintenance of any computer system referred to in this section, including a system of certification, with or without the payment of a fee, of any person wishing to have access to, or otherwise benefit from, such a system.[subsection inserted by Act 9 of 2011]

98D. User agreements

(1)The Commissioner may, for the purpose of regulating communication through a computer system established in terms of section ninety-eight C, prescribe the form of a user agreement to be entered between the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and registered users.
(2)A user agreement shall set out—
(a)the terms and conditions governing communication through a computer system established in terms of section ninety-eight C, including—
(i)the use by registered users of computer equipment and facilities of a class or kind specified in the agreement;
(ii)the allocation to a registered user of a digital signature by the Commissioner;
(iii)the requirement that registered users ensure the security of the digital signatures allocated to them in the manner specified in the agreement,
(b)the manner of affixing a digital signature to any electronic communication or record;
(c)the conditions of reasonable access to the computer system of the registered user by the Commissioner for such verification and audit purposes as may be required by this Act;
(d)the manner and period of keeping electronic records that are necessary or convenient to be kept in connection with a computer system established in terms of section ninety-eight C.

98E. Registration of registered users and suspension or cancellation of registration

(1)No person shall communicate with the Commissioner through a computer system established in terms of section 98C unless such person is a registered user.
(2)An application for registration as a registered user shall be made in the prescribed form, and be accompanied by the user agreement completed by the applicant and the prescribed fee, if any, and such other information as the Commissioner may reasonably require the applicant to furnish in support of the application.
(3)If, after considering an application in terms of subsection (2) and making such enquiries as he or she may deem necessary, the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant—
(a)is a clearing agent licensed under this Act, or is a person who will make regular use of the computer system established in terms of section ninety-eight C;
(b)will introduce adequate measures to—
(i)prevent disclosure of the digital signature allocated to him or her by the Commissioner to any person not authorised to affix such signature;
(ii)safeguard the integrity of information communicated through a computer system established in terms of section ninety-eight C, apart from any change which may occur in the normal course of such communication or during storage and display of such information;
(c)will maintain the standard of reliability of his or her own computer system required in accordance with the requirements of the user agreement;
the Commissioner may approve the application, subject to such reasonable conditions as he or she may impose either generally or in relation to the applicant.
(4)If, at any time after granting an application in terms of subsection (2), the Commissioner is satisfied that a registered user—
(a)has not complied with the requirements of his or her user agreement with any condition or obligation imposed by the Commissioner in respect of such registration;
(b)has made a false or misleading statement with respect to any material fact or omits to state any material fact which was required to be stated in the application for registration;
(c)fails to make regular use of the computer system established in terms of section 98B;
(d)has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Act;
(e)has been convicted of an offence under this Act;
(f)has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty;
(g)is sequestrated or liquidated;
(h)no longer carries on the business for which the registration was issued;
the Commissioner may cancel or suspend for a specified period the registration of the registered user.
(5)Before cancelling or suspending the registration of a registered user in terms of subsection (4) the Commissioner shall—
(a)give notice to the registered user of the proposed cancellation or suspension; and
(b)provide the reasons for the proposed cancellation or suspension; and
(c)afford the registered user a reasonable opportunity to respond and make representations as to why the registration should not be cancelled or suspended.

98F. Digital signatures

(1)Every digital signature intended for use in connection with a computer system established in terms of section 98C shall comply with the following requirements, namely, it must—
(a)be unique to the registered user and under the sole control of the registered user; and
(b)be capable of verification; and
(c)be linked or attached to electronically transmitted data in such a manner that, if the integrity of the data transmitted is compromised, the digital signature is invalidated, and
(d)be in complete conformity with the requirements prescribed by the Commissioner and contained in the user agreement.
(2)The Commissioner shall, on registering a user, allocate to the registered user—
(a)if the user is a natural person, a digital signature or sufficient digital signatures for the user and each employee of the user nominated in the user agreement; or
(b)if the user is not a natural person, sufficient digital signatures for each employee of the user nominated in the user agreement.
(3)Where the registered user is a clearing agent licensed under this Act, no employee of such agent who is not licensed as a clearing agent shall be allocated a digital signature.

98G. Production and retention of documents

Where any provision of this Act prescribes or requires that documents, records, information or the like should be retained for a specific period, that requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied by a registered user if such documents, records, information or the like are so retained in electronic form that—
(a)the information contained therein remains accessible so as to be subsequently usable; and
(b)the electronic record is retained in the format in which it was originally generated, sent or received or in a format which can be demonstrated to represent accurately the information originally generated, sent or received; and
(c)the details which will facilitate the identity of the origin, destination, date and time of dispatch or receipt of such electronic record are available in the electronic record.

98H. Sending and receipt of electronic communications

(1)An electronic communication through a computer system established in terms of section ninety-eight C or the record of such communication shall be attributed to the originator—
(a)if it was sent by the originator; or
(b)if it was sent by a person who had the authority to act on behalf of the originator in respect of that communication or record; or
(c)if it was sent by a computer system programmed by or on behalf of the originator to operate automatically.
(2)Where the Commissioner and a registered user have not agreed that an acknowledgment of receipt of electronic communication be given in any particular form or by any particular method, an acknowledgement maybe given by—
(a)any communication by the Commissioner, electronic or otherwise; or
(b)conduct by the Commissioner or any officer sufficient to indicate to the registered user that the electronic communication has been received.
(3)Where the Commissioner and the registered user have agreed that an electronic communication shall be binding only on the receipt of an acknowledgement of such electronic communication, then, unless such acknowledgement has been so received within such time as agreed upon, such electronic communication shall be deemed not to have been sent.
(4)As between a computer system established in terms of section ninety-eight C and any other computer system of a registered user, the lodgement of an electronic communication occurs when it enters a computer system outside the control of the originator.
(5)The time of receipt of an electronic communication shall be the time when the electronic communication enters the computer—
(a)where the electronic communication is by a registered user, at any office of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, or of the Commissioner, to whichever it was addressed, and such office shall be the place of receipt or
(b)if the electronic communication is sent by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority or the Commissioner to a registered user, at the place of receipt that is stipulated in the user agreement.
(6)Whenever any registered user is authorised to submit and sign electronically any manifest, bill of entry, return, prescribed form, document, schedule, application, declaration, statement, report, notice or the like, which is required to be submitted and signed in terms of this Act, such signature electronically affixed to such electronic communication and communicated to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority or the Commissioner, shall, for the purposes of this Act, have effect as if it was affixed thereto in manuscript, and acceptance thereof shall not be denied if it is in conformity with the user agreement concluded between the Commissioner and the registered user.
(7)The Commissioner may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section, permit any registered user to submit electronically any manifest, bill of entry, return, prescribed form, document, schedule, application, declaration, statement, report, notice or the like, which is required to be submitted in terms of this Act, by using the Internet, and subject to such exceptions, adaptations or additional requirements as the Commissioner may stipulate or prescribe, this section shall apply to the submission of the foregoing documents using the Internet.

98I. Obligations, indemnities and presumptions with respect to digital signatures

(1)If the security of a digital signature allocated to a registered user has been compromised in any manner the registered user shall inform the Commissioner in writing of that fact without delay.
(2)No liability shall attach to the Commissioner, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority or any officer or employee thereof for any failure on the part of a registered user to ensure the security of the digital signature allocated to him or her and in particular, where electronic data authenticated by a digital signature is received by the Commissioner or the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority—
(a)without the authority of the registered user to whom such signature was allocated, and
(b)before notification to the Commissioner or the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority by the registered user that the security of the digital signature allocated to him or her has been compromised;
the Commissioner or the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority shall be entitled to assume that such data has been communicated by, or with the authority of, the registered user of that digital signature.
(3)Where in any proceedings or prosecution under this Act or in any dispute to which the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is a party, the question arises whether an digital signature affixed to any electronic communication to the Commissioner or the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority was used in such communication with or without the consent and authority of the registered user, it shall be assumed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, that such signature was so used with the consent and authority of the registered user.

98J. Alternatives to electronic communication in certain cases

(1)Whenever a computer system established in terms of section 98C or any other computer system of a registered user is inoperative, the registered user and the Commissioner shall communicate with each other in writing in the manner prescribed in this Act.
(2)The Commissioner may at any time require from any registered user the submission of any original document required to be produced under any of the provisions of this Act.

98K. Unlawful uses of computer systems

(1)A person who, not being the registered user of a digital signature to whom it is allocated, uses such a signature in any electronic communication to the Commissioner or the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority without the authority of such registered user, commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2)A person who—
(a)makes a false electronic record or falsifies an electronic record; or
(b)dishonestly or fraudulently—
(i)makes, affixes any digital signature to, transmits or executes an electronic record or communication;
(ii)causes any other person to make, affix any digital signature to, execute, transmit or execute an electronic record or communication;
commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Part IX – Agreements

99. President may enter into customs agreements

(1)Without derogation from the powers conferred on the President in terms of any other law, the President may conclude conventions, treaties, agreements or other arrangements with the government of any country, under such conditions as he may consider necessary, providing for any or all of the following matters—
(a)concessions as to, or exemptions from, the duties normally payable in respect of goods grown, produced or manufactured in, or imported from, the territory of that government, in consideration of the extension by that government of privileges in respect of goods grown, produced or manufactured in, or imported into the territory of that government from, Zimbabwe;
(b)payments to compensate for the extension of privileges by either of the parties in respect of goods grown, produced or manufactured in, or imported from, the territory of the other party;
(c)the importation, removal and exportation of goods, including the collection by the one party on behalf of the other party of the customs duties imposed in respect of goods which, having been imported into the territory of the one party, are removed into the territory of the other party, the payment of such duties or of an amount in commutation thereof, and the charges for the collection of such duties;
(d)the prohibition of the importation and exportation of specified goods, or that specified goods may be imported or exported only under licence or permit.
(2)Any concession as to, or exemption from, duty referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and any payment in compensation referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) may be made or granted with retrospective effect if the President considers it expedient to do so.

100. Agreements to be published

(1)Subject to this section, every agreement concluded under the powers conferred by section ninety-nine shall be published in the Gazette, and the provisions thereof shall be brought into force by the President by notice in the Gazette as from such date as he may in such notice declare.
(2)Where the President considers that any convention, treaty, agreement or other arrangement concluded by or on his behalf with the government of any country makes provision, in addition to other matters, for any of the matters referred to in subsection (1) of section ninety-nine, he shall publish a notice in the Gazette—
(a)stating that the convention, treaty, agreement or arrangement has been concluded; and
(b)identifying the provisions of the convention, treaty, agreement or arrangement which, in his opinion, relate to any of the matters referred to in subsection (1) of section ninety-nine; and
(c)specifying the office or offices within Zimbabwe at which a copy of the convention, treaty, agreement or arrangement may be inspected free of charge; and
(d)declaring the date with effect from which the provisions of the convention, treaty, agreement or arrangement which relate to any of the matters referred to in subsection (1) of section ninety-nine shall have force and effect within Zimbabwe.
(3)The Minister shall lay a copy of every agreement referred to in subsections (1) and (2) before Parliament on one of the thirty days on which it next sits after the date on which—
(a)the agreement was published in terms of subsection (1); or
(b)the notice was published in terms of subsection (2);
as the case may be.
(4)If Parliament, on one of the thirty days on which it next sits after a copy of an agreement has been laid before it in terms of subsection (3), does not by resolution approve such agreement, such agreement shall cease to be of force or effect at the end of the thirtieth sitting day.

101. President may make regulations to give effect to agreements

The President may make regulations in order to give effect to any agreement.

102. Provisions of agreements and regulations to prevail when inconsistent with this Act or any other law

(1)Any agreement or any regulation relative to such agreement shall have force and effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained elsewhere in this Act or in any other law or instrument having effect by virtue of any law.
(2)If in any agreement referred to in subsection (1), whether concluded before or after the 30th June, 1970, concessions as to, or exemptions from, duties are allowed in respect of goods manufactured in a territory of the government with whom the agreement was concluded and no conditions are specified therein as to the requirements to be satisfied before such goods may be regarded as having been manufactured in that territory, such goods shall be deemed, for the purposes of the agreement and any regulation relative thereto, to have been manufactured in that territory only if the requirements of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section eighty-nine are satisfied in relation to that territory.

103. President may suspend, rebate or remit duties payable under agreement

Any suspension, rebate or remission of duty granted in terms of section one hundred and twenty in respect of any duty in the customs tariff or surtax tariff may be extended in whole or in part by the President, by notice in the Gazette, to any corresponding special rate of duty which may be applicable under an agreement to goods grown, produced or manufactured in any particular country. Such suspensions, rebates or remissions of duty may in like manner be amended or repealed.

Part X – Value for duty purposes

104. Interpretation in Part X

(1)In this Part—“Agreements” means Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was entered into at Geneva on the 30th October, 1947, and the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was entered into at Geneva on the 12th April, 1979.“buying commission”, in relation to imported goods, means an amount paid or payable by or on behalf of the importer directly or indirectly to a person who, as an agent of the importer, represented him abroad in the purchase and payment for the goods:Provided that the amount paid by the importer shall not be taken to be buying commission unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the person acting as the agent did not or does not—(i)produce in whole or in part or control the production in whole or in part of the imported goods or any other goods whose value would be taken into account in determining the transaction value of the imported goods;(ii)render or control the rendering of any services whose value would be taken into account in determining or attempting to determine the price of the imported goods or other services of the same class; or(iii)transport the imported goods, or any other goods referred to in paragraph (i) within any foreign country or between a foreign country and Zimbabwe or within Zimbabwe, for any purpose associated with the manufacture or importation of the imported goods; or(iv)purchase, exchange, sell or otherwise trade in any of the goods referred to in paragraph (i) or render any of the services referred to in paragraph (ii) otherwise than in the capacity of an agent of the importer; or(v)in relation to any of the goods referred to in paragraph (i) or any of the services referred to in paragraph (ii), act as an agent for, or in any other way represent the producer, supplier or seller of the goods or the person who rendered the services, as the case may be, or otherwise be associated with any such person except as the agent of the importer; or(vi)claim or receive, directly or indirectly, the benefit of any commission, fee or other payment on any goods or services from any person as a consequence of the importation of the goods concerned other than commission received from the importer for the services rendered by that person in that transaction;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“computed value”, in relation to imported goods, means the value of the goods as determined by the Commissioner in terms of section one hundred and ten;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“general expenses” means the direct and indirect costs, charges and expenses of producing and selling goods for export, other than the costs, charges and expenses referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2) of section one hundred and ten;“goods of the same class or kind”, in relation to imported goods, means goods produced by a particular industry or industrial sector in the country from which the imported goods were exported and falling within the same group or range of goods as the imported goods;“identical goods”, in relation to imported goods, means goods which—(a)are manufactured in the same country as the imported goods, whether by the same or a different manufacturer; and(b)save possibly for minor differences in appearance, are the same as the imported goods in all material respects, including physical characteristics, quality and reputation;but does not include goods which incorporate or reflect engineering, development work, design work, plans or sketches undertaken in Zimbabwe;“price actually paid or payable” in relation to imported goods, means the sum of—(a)all payments that have been made, or are to be made, in relation to such goods, by or on behalf of the importer—(i)to the seller; or(ii)to any person related to the seller, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the seller has not derived and will not derive any direct or indirect benefit from the payment; or(iii)to any other person for the direct or indirect benefit of the seller;in accordance with the contract of sale or any other contract, agreement or arrangement, whether formal or informal, for doing anything to increase the value of the goods; and(b)the value as determined by the Commissioner of any consideration or services rendered, or to be rendered, directly or indirectly, by or on behalf of the importer—(i)to the seller;(ii)to any person related to the seller, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the seller has not derived and will not derive any direct or indirect benefit from the payment; or(iii)to any other person for the direct or indirect benefit of the seller;[definition amended by Act 17 of 1999]“royalty” means an amount paid or credited as consideration for—(a)the making, use, exercise or selling of an invention or the right to make, use, exercise or sell an invention; or(b)the use of, or the right to use—(i)a design or trade mark;(ii)confidential information; or(iii)any machinery, implement, apparatus or other equipment;or(c)the supply of scientific, technical, industrial, commercial or other knowledge or information; or(d)any assistance that is ancillary and subsidiary to, and is furnished as a means of enabling the application or enjoyment of any matter falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c);(e)a total or partial forbearance in respect of any matter falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c);“transaction value”, in relation to any goods, means the value determined in terms of section one hundred and six;“similar goods”, in relation to imported goods, means goods which—(a)are manufactured in the same country as the imported goods, whether by the same or a different manufacturer; and(b)though not alike in all respects to the imported goods, have like characteristics and component materials which enable them to perform the same functions as and to be commercially interchangeable with the imported goods;but does not include goods which incorporate or reflect engineering, development work, design work, plans or sketches undertaken in Zimbabwe;“unit price”, in relation to imported goods that are sold, means the price of the goods in accordance with the contract of sale, divided by the number of the units of the goods.
(2)In the determination of whether or not any goods are similar to other goods for the purposes of this Part, regard shall be had, among other factors, to the quality of the goods, their reputation and their trademark, if any.
(3)For the purposes of this Part, persons shall be deemed to be related to each other only if—
(a)they are officers or Commissioners of one anothers’ businesses; or
(b)they are partners in business; or
(c)they are employer and employee; or
(d)in the case of bodies corporate, any other person directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds five per centum or more of the issued voting stock or shares of both of them; or
(e)one of them directly or indirectly controls the other; or
(f)both of them are directly or indirectly controlled by a third person; or
(g)together they directly or indirectly control a third person; or
(h)they are members of the same family.
(4)Persons who are associated in business with one another in that the one is the sole agent, sole distributor or sole concessionnaire, however described, of the other shall be deemed to be related to each other for the purposes of this Part only if they are so deemed in terms of subsection (3).

105. Value for duty purposes

(1)For the purpose of assessing the amount of any duty payable on any imported goods and for the purpose of any declaration or oath which may be required by this Act or any other enactment in relation to any question of value or duty in connection with the importation of goods or goods which are likely to be imported, the value of such goods shall, subject to this Act, be the transaction value thereof as established or determined in terms of sections one hundred and six to one hundred and twelve.
(2)If the value of any goods required to be entered separately is one dollar or less, no account shall be taken of such value.

106. Transaction value: primary method of valuation

(1)Subject to this Act, the value for duty purposes of any imported goods shall be the transaction value of the goods, that is to say, the price actually paid or payable for the goods when sold for export to Zimbabwe, adjusted in terms of section one hundred and thirteen, if—
(a)there are no restrictions as to the disposal or use of the goods by the buyer, other than restrictions which—
(i)are imposed or required by law; or
(ii)limit the geographical area in which the goods may be resold; or
(iii)do not substantially affect the value of the goods;
and
(b)the sale or price of the goods is not subject to any condition or consideration for which a value cannot be determined; and
(c)no part of the proceeds of any subsequent resale, disposal or use of the goods by the buyer will accrue directly or indirectly to the seller, unless an appropriate adjustment can be made in terms of section one hundred and thirteen; and
(d)subject to subsection (2), the buyer and the seller are not related.
(2)The fact that a buyer and a seller are related shall not in itself be a ground for not accepting the transaction value, where—
(a)in the opinion of the Commissioner, such relationship did not influence the price actually paid or payable for the goods concerned; or
(b)the importer proves to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the transaction value closely approximates to one of the following values—
(i)the transaction value of identical or similar goods sold at or about the same time as the goods to be valued at comparable commercial and quantity levels to buyers in Zimbabwe who are not related; or
(ii)the value, determined in terms of section one hundred and nine, of identical or similar goods imported into Zimbabwe at or about the same time as the goods to be valued.
[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]

107. Transaction value of identical goods: first alternative method

(1)Subject to section one hundred and eight and of this section, if the value for duty purposes of any imported goods cannot be established in terms of section one hundred and six, their value for duty purposes shall be the transaction value of identical goods which are—
(a)sold for export to Zimbabwe at the same commercial level and in substantially the same quantity as the goods to be valued; and
(b)exported to Zimbabwe at or about the same time as the goods to be valued.
(2)Where no sale such as is referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) is found, the value for duty purposes of the imported goods concerned shall be established for the purposes of this section by a sale of identical goods that are sold for export to Zimbabwe at a different commercial level and additionally, or alternatively, in different quantities from the goods to be valued, adjustments being made to take account of differences in price attributed to commercial level and additionally, or alternatively, to quantity.
(3)In establishing the value for duty purposes of any imported goods in terms of this section, all adjustment shall be made to take account of significant differences in the costs and charges referred to in section one hundred and thirteen between the goods to be valued and the identical goods concerned arising from differences in distances and modes of transport.
(4)If, in the application of this section, more than one transaction value is determined, the lowest such value shall be taken as the value for duty purposes of the goods to be valued.
(5)An importer who wishes any imported goods to be valued in terms of this section shall, on request, produce to the proper officer either—
(a)a copy of a bill of entry on the basis of which the Department accepted the value of imported goods which were identical to the goods to be valued and which were entered within three months of the date of the goods to be valued; or
(b)sufficient information to enable the proper officer to trace a bill of entry referred to in paragraph (a).

108. Transaction value of similar goods: second alternative method

(1)Subject to section one hundred and nine and of this section, if the value for duty purposes of any imported goods cannot be established in terms of section one hundred and six or one hundred and seven, their value for duty purposes shall be the transaction value of similar goods that are—
(a)sold for export to Zimbabwe at the same commercial level and in substantially the same quantity as the goods to be valued; and
(b)exported to Zimbabwe at or about the same time as the goods to be valued.
(2)Subsections (2) to (5) of section one hundred and seven shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the valuation of goods in terms of this section as if references in those subsections to identical goods were references to similar goods.

109. Deductive value: third alternative method

(1)Subject to the provisions of section one hundred and eleven, if the value for duty purposes of any imported goods cannot be established in terms of section one hundred and six, one hundred and seven or one hundred and eight, their value for duty purposes shall be established in terms of this section:Provided that, if prior to the commencement of the valuation of any imported goods the importer so requests, the Commissioner shall attempt to determine their value in terms of section one hundred and ten and, if their value cannot be so determined, it shall then be established in terms of this section.[subsection amended by Act 17 of 1999]
(2)Subject to this section, if the goods to be valued, or identical or similar imported goods, are sold in Zimbabwe at or about the time of importation of the goods to be valued and in the same condition as that in which they were imported, the value for duty purposes of the goods to be valued shall be based on the unit price at which the goods to be valued, or the identical or similar imported goods, as the case may be, are so sold in Zimbabwe in the greatest aggregate quantity to persons who are not related to the importer.
(3)If the goods to be valued, or identical or similar imported goods, are not sold in Zimbabwe at or about the time of importation of the goods to be valued but are otherwise sold in Zimbabwe as provided in subsection (2), the value for duty purposes of the goods to be valued shall be based, subject to this section, on the unit price at which the goods to be valued, or identical or similar imported goods, as the case may be, are sold in the greatest aggregate quantity in such a sale transacted at the earliest date after the importation of the goods to be valued, but not later than ninety days after such importation.
(4)If the goods to be valued, or identical or similar imported